Initiatives to detect and prevent death from perioperative deterioration

Abstract

Purpose of review This study indicates that there are differences between hospitals in detection, as well as in adequate management of postsurgical complications, a phenomenon that is described as ‘failure-to-rescue’. In this review, recent initiatives to reduce failure-to-rescue in the perioperative period are described. Recent findings Use of cognitive aids, emergency manuals, family participation as well as remote monitoring systems are measures to reduce failure-to-rescue situations. Postoperative visit of an anaesthesiologist on the ward was not shown to improve outcome, but there is still room for improvement of postoperative care. Summary Improving the complete emergency chain, including monitoring, recognition and response in the afferent limb, as well as diagnostic and treatment in the efferent limb, should lead to reduced failure-to-rescue situations in the perioperative period.