[Systematic collection and analysis of intraoperative anaesthetic-related problems].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to systematically collect and analyse the frequency, type and severity of all untoward intraoperative anaesthetic-related problems in a hospital over a 6-month period.


METHODS
An observational, systematic, prospective, and cross sectional study was conducted on the events and their risk factors. The study is based on a system in which anaesthesia-related data are recorded from all anaesthetic cases on a routine basis, including sedation and obstetric analgesia. The variables were demographic, procedural data, and a checklist with problem type and severity. Data were analysed using chi-square, Fisher's test, or Student's test. A P<.05 was considered statistically significant.


RESULTS
The frequency of intraoperative anaesthetic-related problems was 17.2%, with 1.3 anaesthetic problems per case, being 9 times more frequent the adverse effects with low severity grade. During anaesthesia, respiratory problems occurred in 13, circulatory problems in 8, and technical problems in 2 out of every 100 procedures. The factors associated with the patient in whom the anaesthetic problem occurred were: the use of general anaesthesia, supraumbilical surgery, and a higher preoperative anaesthetic risk.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of a systematic intraoperative anaesthetic-related database with a checklist of problems and severity plays an important part in quality assurance strategies. An analysis of non-fatal problems provides a basis for establishing corrective strategies before significant morbidity occurs, and by separating the surgical and anaesthesia problems.
Servicio de Anestesiología y Reanimación, Hospital Comarcal del Noroeste, Murcia, España. Electronic address: francisco.lopez18@carm.es.
F
F
López-Soriano
F
F
Rivas-López
B
B
Lajarín-Barquero
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult