Quality assurance in anaesthetic practice: comparison between two methods in detecting complications

• Published in: Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica 2002-08, Vol.46 (7), p.896-901
• Main Authors: Niskanen, M., Tuovinen, T., Purhonen, S., Vauhkonen, S., Hendolin, H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anesthesia; Anesthesia - adverse effects; Anesthesia, Conduction; Anesthesia, General; Anesthesia, Intravenous; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; complications; data recording; Female; Hospital Information Systems; Humans; Male; Medical Records; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; quality assurance; Quality Assurance, Health Care; Retrospective Studies; Risk Management
• ISSN: 0001-5172; 1399-6576
• DOI: 10.1034/j.1399-6576.2002.460722.x

Background: Reliable identification and documentation of complications is an essential part of a well‐functioning quality system (QS) in anaesthetic practice. The criteria for the complications have to be appropriate. The QS of Kuopio University Hospital fulfils the ISO 9002 standard. The validity of the recordings in the QS was ascertained by comparing the routine recordings with external assessment. Methods: Three types of complications were predefined: minor, severe and those specific for regional anaesthesia. A total of 1006 anaesthetic charts, including general, regional and intravenous anaesthesia, were randomly selected and retrospectively screened by an external assessor. The retrospective assessment of complications was compared to the recordings in the data management system for operative procedures (DMS) as a part of routine quality assurance. Cohen's kappa statistics was used to indicate agreement between two raters. Results: Both methods identified complications in 115 procedures (11.4%). The methods, however, did not identify complications in same procedures. There was a fairly close agreement (P