Emergency checklist for the facial harmonization office
Most days in an orofacial harmonization office are calm. The day that is not almost always catches the team without a plan: nobody knows where the vial is, the expiration date has passed, the referral service's number is not at hand. The checklist below turns "what to do if" into a list, with an owner and a review date, to be used, not filed away.
This material is an organizational guide, not a clinical protocol. It contains no dosages or drug management, which depend on the qualified professional, on what you inject and on the rules of your professional council and the health surveillance authority in Brazil. For preparation with hyaluronic acid, see hyaluronidase in the office; for an overview of risks, safety and complications in HOF.
When to use this template?
When setting up the office's safety routine, and then every month (or at the frequency you define): check the items, update expiration dates and record who verified. Redo it whenever the team, location, procedures or products used change. Print it and post the activation flow where everyone can see it.
Which complications should the plan anticipate?
| Situation | Signs the team should recognize | What the plan should contain |
|---|---|---|
| Vascular occlusion | Severe pain, pallor, net-like mottling, color change, vision changes | Stop, activate the protocol, professional's management, referral |
| Allergic reaction | Itching, hives, swelling, shortness of breath | Basic life support, emergency call |
| Faintness and blood pressure drop | Dizziness, pallor, cold sweat, fainting | Lay the patient down, monitor, call for help |
| Infection | Increasing pain, warm redness, fever, discharge | Assessment and management at an immediate return visit |
| Visual complication | Vision loss or blurring, eye pain | Immediate activation, referral to a specialized service |
The articles on vascular occlusion, necrosis and visual complications after filler detail the clinical reasoning.
How to build the activation flow?
- Recognize: the team knows the warning signs and that any member can say "stop".
- Stop the procedure.
- Call for help: the professional in charge takes over; someone calls emergency services when indicated.
- Apply the protocol defined by the qualified professional for that situation.
- Refer to the referral service when indicated, with information on what was injected and the time.
- Stay with the patient: do not leave them alone, notify their companion, keep in touch.
- Record in the patient chart: time, signs, actions taken, referral, progress.
- Review the case afterward with the team.
Emergency checklist template
What to do after an incident?
Take care of the patient first, the paperwork second. Inform the patient and their companion clearly and without blame, stay in frequent contact in the following days and note the progress in the chart. Review the case with the team, adjust the protocol and check whether the informed consent covered the risk that occurred. For complications by category, see the articles on lip vascular occlusion and on hyaluronidase at Anvisa (Brazil's health regulatory agency). When you use hyaluronic acid day to day, asepsis is also part of prevention.
Frequently asked questions
What emergency kit does a harmonization office need?
It depends on what you inject, the location and the rules of your professional council and the health surveillance authority in Brazil. In general: hyaluronidase within its expiration date if you inject hyaluronic acid, basic life support items, a phone with emergency numbers, recording materials and a written protocol. The exact list should be set by the technical manager.
What should be done when a vascular occlusion is suspected in the office?
Stop the procedure, activate the clinic's protocol and team, follow the course of action defined by the professional (which may include hyaluronidase, if hyaluronic acid was used), refer the patient to specialized care and record everything. Time is a critical factor, which is why the protocol must be written down and rehearsed.
How often should the kit be reviewed and the team trained?
A periodic review, with a set date and a person in charge, is the minimum, to check expiration dates and restocking. Regular drills help the team act without improvising. The frequency should follow the clinic's protocol and applicable rules.