SUMMARY
Perioperative outcomes are important factors to consider when evaluating anesthetic and surgical processes, variations in practice, and patient safety. The term "perioperative" includes three phases of surgery: before (preoperative), during (intraoperative) and after (postoperative).
Mark A. Warner, M.D., works with Mayo Clinic's Anesthesia Clinical Research Unit to investigate both common and rare perioperative patient safety issues. Rare perioperative events include pulmonary aspiration, bronchospasm, vision loss, central and peripheral neuropathies, and death.
Focus areas
- Perioperative pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents. This rare event can result in catastrophic outcomes, including death. Dr. Warner investigates perioperative processes and patient factors to reduce the risk of this problem.
- Perioperative peripheral neuropathies. Dr. Warner and his team study the epidemiology and etiologies of various postsurgical neuropathies. These studies include anatomical dissections and analytics, as well as detailed neurophysiological monitoring and testing.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Warner's studies have resulted in safety improvements for patients having surgery. Examples include support for preoperative fasting guidelines that have been adopted around the world. These recommendations have reduced the incidence of food entering the respiratory tract during surgery.
Dr. Warner's research has improved the understanding of factors that lead to surgery-related ulnar neuropathy — characterized by weakness and pain following the path of the ulnar nerve in the forearm, elbow and hand joints. His findings have led to a dramatic decline in the risk of patients developing this postoperative complication.
Professional highlights
- President, Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation, 2016-2022.
- American Society of Anesthesiologists:
- Distinguished Service Award, 2018.
- President, 2010-2011.
- Mayo Clinic:
- Distinguished Educator Award, 2017.
- Juanita Kious Waugh Executive Dean of Education, 2012-2016.
- Dean, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, 2006-2012.
- Walter and Leonore Annenberg Professor of Anesthesiology Honoring Dr. Daniel R. Brown, 2009.
- Chair, Department of Anesthesiology, 1999-2006.
- President, The American Board of Anesthesiology, 2009-2010.
- Editor, Anesthesiology, 2007-2010.