1.34 Surgical Safety Checklist

Question 1

Who is responsible for implementing and maintain surgical safety checklist

Answer 1

All staff involved with patients care throughout periop pathway

Executive at board level
Clinical lead appointed to implement surgical safety checklist

Ward staff and porter who prep and accompany patient to theatre

Anaesthetist
Anaesthetic nurse

Surgeon and surgical assistant

Appointed theatre lead for day

Theatre scrub staff
HCA

Theatre manager

Recovery staff

Question 2

Important factors to be discussed

Prior to induction

Answer 2

Prior to induction

1. Confirm correct Patient correct surgery @ correct site
2. Confirm consent obtained
   correct type filled and signed
3. Check surgical site marked if approp
4. Confirm anaesthetic machines equipment and drugs check and prepped
5. ID patient risk of above average blood loss
   >500mls
6. ID patient difficult airway / risk aspiration
7. Reconfirm allergies

Question 3

Safety checklist

Prior to incision

Answer 3

Prior to incision

1. All theatre team introduce
   name + role
2. Reconfirm patients name
   procedure
   site
   position
3. High procedure specific equipment or invx
4. Ensure imaging devices and trained personnel available
5. Confirm sterility surgical instruments and equipment
6. Highlight any anticipated or potential critical incidents
   need for blood products
7. Patient specific concerns
   comorbs
   ASA
   monitoring
8. equipment issues

9. Confirm site infection prophylaxis occurred
Abx prop w/in 60min prior to incision
Adequate glycaemic control
hair removal
warming

10. VTE prophylaxis

Question 4

Surgical Safety - End procedure

Answer 4

Check procedure adequately and correctly recorded

Confirm instruments
swab
sharps
counts complete

Confirm specimens labelled and packaged correctly

ID equipment issues addressed

Major concerns post op management and recovery