Check-List “patient safety in surgery”: experience of the operating theatre at Zinder 1913B National Hospital.

Abstract

Introduction :
Patient safety encompasses all means of eliminating or preventing undesirable outcomes or damage from medical and surgical care processes. The aim of our study was to investigate the application of the WHO checklist in the operating theaters of the Hospital National de Zinder (HNZ).

Methodology :
This was a descriptive cross-sectional study with prospective data collection from October 1 to December 31, 2023, i.e. 03 months. The sources of data collection were: the anesthesia record and the checklist, if the latter had been completed for the patient. Patient anonymity was respected.

Results :
of the 698 procedures performed, 306 had completed the checklist, representing a compliance rate of 43.84%; overall completeness was zero. Completeness per form varied from 21.73% to 82.6%. The mean age was 24.6 ±24 years, with extremes of 15 days and 85 years; males predominated, with a sex ratio of 1.94. All patients had undergone a preanesthetic consultation (CPA), ASA classes 1 and 2 accounted for 92.5% and Altemeier class 1 for 71.57%; general anesthesia was used in 69.93%. Antibiotic prophylaxis was administered 30 minutes prior to surgery in 63.4% of cases. Intraoperative adverse events (AE) accounted for 15.03%, with cardiovascular events predominating in 56.5% and respiratory events in 30.4%.

Conclusion :
Application of the checklist was encouraging. It is important to intensify awareness-raising among the various players involved. Further studies will be needed to assess the checklist's effectiveness in preventing adverse events and reducing mortality in the operating room.