Hidden aspects of the anaesthesia chart.

Anaesthesia is a complex task operating in an uncertain environment. Part of the problem is that many of the technologies developed to assist the anaesthesiologist hinder rather than help, because of increased complexity. We conducted an analysis of the domain in view of redesigning the anaesthesia chart as a digital artefact. We used an ethnographic approach that uncovered aspects of the anaesthesiologist's practice, as well as the fact that the chart was not used as a tool, because of its legal status.