214THE IMPACT OF A MODIFIED ‘SAFE SURGERY SAVES LIVES’ CHECKLIST DEVELOPED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE CARDIAC SURGICAL PATIENT

Objectives: The ‘Safe Surgery Saves Lives’ (SSSL) initiative was established by the World Alliance for Patient Safety as part of the World Health Organization. This study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of a modified SSSL checklist developed specifically for the cardiac surgical patient. Methods: Data for all patients undergoing cardiac surgery between 2008 and 2010 and during 2012 were examined retrospectively. Between these two periods a modified SSSL was introduced. The differences in the outcomes of the two groups in regard to surgical time, intubation time, postoperative peak creatinine kinase (CKMB) and the volume of blood transfusion were evaluated. During the time period of the modified SSSL checklist, all the involved parties, which includes surgeons, perfusionists, anaesthesiologists and nursing staff, in addition to reviewing all the exams they also discussed together the surgical course and any complications that may be expected to occur. Results: A total of 1689 patients were included; 1250 patients underwent cardiac surgery during the control period of 2008–2010 and 439 patients during the period 2012. There were no differences in age, gender, diabetes, BMI, creatinine, EuroSCORE or type of surgery between the two periods. Surgical time, intubation time, postoperative peak CKMB and the volume of blood transfusion were significantly lower in the post-intervention period (P = 0.001, P = 0.007, P = 0.005, P = 0.004, respectively). Conclusion: Performing a modified SSSL checklist, developed specifically for the cardiac surgical patient, yields quality process optimisation resulting in a significant reduction of surgical time, intubation time, ischaemia and blood transfusion.