Florence E Turrentine1, Worthington G Schenk2, Timothy L McMurry3, Carlos A Tache-Leon4, R Scott Jones5. 1. Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA. Electronic address: Fet7q@virginia.edu. 2. Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA. Electronic address: wgs@virginia.edu. 3. Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA. Electronic address: tlm6w@virginia.edu. 4. Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA. Electronic address: CAT2N@virginia.edu. 5. Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA. Electronic address: rsj@virginia.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Relationships between surgical errors and adverse events have not been fully explored and were examined in this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study reviewed records of deceased surgical patients over 12 months. Bivariate associations between predictors and errors were examined. RESULTS: 84 deaths occurred following 5,209 operations. Errors in care (63%) compared to those without had significantly more adverse events, (98% vs 80% respectively, p = 0.004). Significant association occurred between error and emergency status, p = 0.016); length of stay >10 days, p = 0.011; adverse events, p = 0.005). Regression results indicated number of adverse events (OR = 1.27, 95% CI (1.08-1.49), p = 0.003) and length of stay (OR = 1.05, 95% CI (1.01-1.09), p = 0.008) were associated with surgical errors. CONCLUSIONS: Examining postoperative adverse events in error cases identified opportunities for improvement. Reducing medical errors requires measuring medical errors.
BACKGROUND: Relationships between surgical errors and adverse events have not been fully explored and were examined in this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study reviewed records of deceased surgical patients over 12 months. Bivariate associations between predictors and errors were examined. RESULTS: 84 deaths occurred following 5,209 operations. Errors in care (63%) compared to those without had significantly more adverse events, (98% vs 80% respectively, p = 0.004). Significant association occurred between error and emergency status, p = 0.016); length of stay >10 days, p = 0.011; adverse events, p = 0.005). Regression results indicated number of adverse events (OR = 1.27, 95% CI (1.08-1.49), p = 0.003) and length of stay (OR = 1.05, 95% CI (1.01-1.09), p = 0.008) were associated with surgical errors. CONCLUSIONS: Examining postoperative adverse events in error cases identified opportunities for improvement. Reducing medical errors requires measuring medical errors.
Authors: Gabriel A Molina; Germanico Fuentes; Andres Jimenez; Estefany J Proaño; Paulina E Chango; Maria Isabel Uzcategui; Ronald S Alvear; Cristina B Rubio Journal: J Surg Case Rep Date: 2022-10-11