Annika Bergström 1 , Maria Dimopoulou 2 , Mikaela Eldh 2 Show Affiliations »
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the use of a surgical safety checklist (SSC) could reduce the incidence of complications after small animal surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. ANIMALS: Client-owned dogs and cats (n = 520). METHODS: Consecutive cases were enrolled in the study, the first 300 cases without implementation of the surgical checklist (SSC-), followed by 220 cases with implementation of the checklist (SSC+). The checklist was adapted from the WHO surgical checklist and consisted of three different check points: (1) before induction of anaesthesia (sign in), (2) before surgical incision (time out), and (3) before recovery (sign out). In-hospital outcomes were prospectively recorded, and complications within 6 weeks were retrospectively recorded by reviewing medical records and by telephone interviews with owners. The severity of each recorded complication was graded as minor, moderate, or severe. Comparisons were made between SSC- and SSC+ outcomes. RESULTS: There were significantly more complications in SSC- animals than SSC+ animals (SSC- 52/300 vs. SSC+ 15/220, P = .0003). There was a significantly higher frequency of SSI (P = .045) and wound healing complications (P = .0006) for SSC- animals than SSC+ animals. CONCLUSION: The frequency and severity of postoperative complications was significantly decreased after introduction of a surgical checklist. All veterinary hospitals should consider using a surgical checklist. Compliance with implementation of the checklist is important for success. © Copyright 2016 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the use of a surgical safety checklist (SSC) could reduce the incidence of complications after small animal surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. ANIMALS: Client-owned dogs and cats (n = 520). METHODS: Consecutive cases were enrolled in the study, the first 300 cases without implementation of the surgical checklist (SSC-), followed by 220 cases with implementation of the checklist (SSC+). The checklist was adapted from the WHO surgical checklist and consisted of three different check points: (1) before induction of anaesthesia (sign in), (2) before surgical incision (time out), and (3) before recovery (sign out). In-hospital outcomes were prospectively recorded, and complications within 6 weeks were retrospectively recorded by reviewing medical records and by telephone interviews with owners. The severity of each recorded complication was graded as minor, moderate, or severe. Comparisons were made between SSC- and SSC+ outcomes. RESULTS: There were significantly more complications in SSC- animals than SSC+ animals (SSC- 52/300 vs. SSC+ 15/220, P = .0003). There was a significantly higher frequency of SSI (P = .045) and wound healing complications (P = .0006) for SSC- animals than SSC+ animals. CONCLUSION: The frequency and severity of postoperative complications was significantly decreased after introduction of a surgical checklist. All veterinary hospitals should consider using a surgical checklist. Compliance with implementation of the checklist is important for success. © Copyright 2016 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Entities: Species
Mesh： See more »
Year: 2016
PMID： 27195524 DOI： 10.1111/vsu.12482
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Vet Surg ISSN： 0161-3499 Impact factor: 1.495