Effect of surgical safety checklist on 90-day outcomes

Editor's Note

Implementation of a surgical safety checklist was associated with a statistically significant 27% reduction in 90-day all cause postoperative mortality, while 30-day mortality remained unchanged in this study. The checklist was also associated with a reduction in length of stay but not 30-day readmission rates.

This is the first study to report on the association of surgical safety checklists with 90-day mortality, which might be even more important than 30-day mortality, the authors say.

Importance The appropriately coached implementation of surgical safety checklists (SSCs) reduces the incidence of perioperative complications and 30-day mortality of patients undergoing surgery. The association of the introduction of SSCs with 90-day mortality remains unclear. Objective To assess the association between the implementation of SSCs and all-cause 90- and 30-day mortality rates.