Reported anaesthetic complications during an 11-year period. A retrospective study.
Retrospectively 120 anaesthetic complications with potential medicolegal consequences were reviewed. Seven deaths occurred. Eighty percent of the complications were potentially avoidable. Of the complications 4.4% resulted in major morbidity and 82.3% in intermediate morbidity. Dental injuries were reported with an annual frequency of six. The use of pulse oximetry and/or capnography could possibly have prevented 18% of all complications apart from dental injuries. Ten cases were reported to the National Swedish Board of Health and Welfare; four cases resulted in disciplinary consequences. The influence of human factors on the development of complications is stressed.
Wang
L P
LP
Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
Hägerdal
M
M
D000758:Anesthesia / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000761:Anesthesia Department, Hospital / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects; D003817:Dentition; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000453:epidemiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012308:Risk Management; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology