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14 Jan 2009
WHO - Checklist helps reduce surgical complications, deaths

Hospitals in eight cities around the globe have successfully demonstrated that the use of a simple surgical checklist, developed by WHO, during major operations can lower the incidence of surgery-related deaths and complications by one third.

Data was collected from 7688 patients – 3733 before and 3955 after the checklist was introduced.

The study was carried out in hospitals in both high and lower income settings—in Ifakara (Tanzania), Manila (Philippines), New Delhi (India), Amman (Jordan), Seattle (United States of America), Toronto (Canada), London (United Kingdom) and Auckland (New Zealand). The reductions in complications proved to be of equal magnitude in high and lower income sites in the study.

The Safe Surgery System, as an electronic Surgical Safety Checklist, is allowing faster and more accurate adherence to these WHO recommendations.

Read here for the full WHO story.

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