Unadjusted risk of complications in patients who underwent pediatric surgery in Ontario (n = 28 772)
| Outcome (within 30 d after surgery) | No. (%) of patients | Before checklist implementation v. after checklist implementation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prechecklist group* n = 14 458 | Postchecklist group† n = 14 314 | OR (95% CI) | |
| One or more complications | 590 (4.08) | 590 (4.12) | 1.010 (0.899–1.135) |
| Mortality | 1 (0.01) | 0 (0.00) | – |
| Acute renal failure | 3 (0.02) | 5 (0.03) | 1.684 (0.402–7.046) |
| Cardiac arrest requiring CPR | 0 (0.00) | 0 (0.00) | – |
| Complications of procedure | 464 (3.21) | 447 (3.12) | 0.972 (0.852–1.109) |
| Complications of prosthetics | 93 (0.64) | 101 (0.71) | 1.098 (0.827–1.456) |
| Decubitus ulcer | 5 (0.03) | 7 (0.05) | 1.414 (0.449–4.457) |
| Deep vein thrombosis | 3 (0.02) | 4 (0.03) | 1.347 (0.301–6.018) |
| Disruption of wound | 40 (0.28) | 49 (0.34) | 1.238 (0.815–1.881) |
| Electrolyte or acid–base abnormality | 18 (0.12) | 5 (0.03) | 0.280 (0.104–0.755)‡ |
| Hemorrhage or hematoma | 101 (0.70) | 96 (0.67) | 0.960 (0.725–1.270) |
| Pneumonia | 34 (0.24) | 44 (0.31) | 1.308 (0.836–2.048) |
| Postprocedural respiratory distress | 9 (0.06) | 3 (0.03) | 0.337 (0.091–1.243) |
| Pulmonary collapse | 2 (0.01) | 4 (0.03) | 2.020 (0.370–11.032) |
| Pulmonary embolism | 3 (0.02) | 1 (0.01) | 0.337 (0.035–3.237) |
| Surgical site infection | 243 (1.68) | 234 (1.63) | 0.972 (0.811–1.165) |
| Sepsis | 7 (0.05) | 7 (10) | 1.010 (0.354–2.880) |
| Shock | 5 (0.03) | 7 (0.05) | 1.414 (0.449–4.457) |
| Stroke | 1 (0.01) | 1 (0.01) | 1.010 (0.063–16.150) |
| Vascular graft failure | 0 (0.00) | 1 (0.01) | – |
Note: CI = confidence interval, CPR = cardiopulmonary resuscitation, OR = odds ratio.
↵* October 2008 to September 2009 (before the implementation of patient safety checklists in operating rooms in Ontario).
↵† October 2010 to September 2011 (after the implementation of patient safety checklists in operating rooms in Ontario).
↵‡ p < 0.05.