Simple Checklist Reduces Postoperative Complications

A surgical safety checklist reduces postoperative complications, according to an international study published online by the New England Journal of Medicine.

Eight socioeconomically and geographically diverse hospitals implemented use of a 19-item surgical safety checklist, based on World Health Organization guidelines, that helped ensure safe anesthesia practices, infection prevention, and teamwork during noncardiac surgeries in patients aged 16 or older. Researchers then compared outcomes during 3 months before and 3 months after the checklist was in place.

The rate of any major complication during hospitalization within 30 days after surgery fell from 11% before the intervention to 7% afterward. In particular, mortality dropped from 1.5% to 0.8%. Benefits were seen in both high- and low-income settings.

These data suggest that "the checklist program can improve the safety of surgical patients in diverse clinical and economic environments," the authors conclude.