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Jolly S, Chu MKW, Gupta AK, Mitchell J, Kovoor JG, Stewart SK, Babidge WJ, Chan JCY, Trochsler MI, Maddern GJ. Potentially avoidable mortality after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in Australia: an 8-year qualitative analysis. ANZ J Surg 2023; 93:1825-1832. [PMID: 37209092 DOI: 10.1111/ans.18511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a commonly performed procedure worldwide. The aim of this study was to examine cases of mortality after ERCP to identify clinical incidents that are potentially preventable, to improve patient safety. METHODS The Australian and New Zealand Audit of Surgical Mortality provides an independent and externally peer-reviewed audit of surgical mortality pertaining to potentially avoidable issues. A retrospective review of prospectively collected data within this database was performed for the 8-year audit period from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2016. Clinical incidents were identified by assessors through first- or second-line review, and thematically coded into periprocedural stages. These themes were then qualitatively analysed. RESULTS There were 58 potentially avoidable deaths following ERCP, with 85 clinical incidents. Preprocedural incidents were most common (n = 37), followed by postprocedural (n = 32) and then intraprocedural (n = 8). Communication issues occurred across the periprocedural period (n = 8). Preprocedural incidents included delay to procedure, inadequate resuscitative management, decision to perform procedure and inadequate assessment. Intraprocedural incidents comprised technical factors and inadequate support. Postprocedural incidents involved inappropriate treatment, delay in definitive surgical treatment or in recognizing complications, inappropriate second-line intervention and inadequate assessment. Communication incidents comprised inadequate documentation, failure to escalate care and poor inter-clinician communication. CONCLUSION Causes of mortality following ERCP are wide-ranging, and reviewing clinical incidents associated with potentially avoidable mortality can serve to inform and educate practitioners. In collating a subset of cases in which procedure-related mortality was deemed avoidable, a series of cautionary tales about ERCP is presented that may provide cues to practitioners on improving patient safety and inform future surgical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Jolly
- Research, Audit and Academic Surgery, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Matthew K W Chu
- Research, Audit and Academic Surgery, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- The Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Aashray K Gupta
- Discipline of Surgery, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jessica Mitchell
- Research, Audit and Academic Surgery, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Joshua G Kovoor
- Research, Audit and Academic Surgery, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Discipline of Surgery, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Sasha K Stewart
- Research, Audit and Academic Surgery, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Wendy J Babidge
- Research, Audit and Academic Surgery, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Discipline of Surgery, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Justin C Y Chan
- Research, Audit and Academic Surgery, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Markus I Trochsler
- Discipline of Surgery, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Guy J Maddern
- Research, Audit and Academic Surgery, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Discipline of Surgery, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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Chui JN, Papachristos AJ, Mechera R, Sidhu SB, Sywak MS, Lee JC, Gundara J, Lai C, Glover AR. Unexpected deaths after endocrine surgery: learning from rare events using a national audit of surgical mortality. Br J Surg 2022; 109:1164-1171. [PMID: 35927948 PMCID: PMC10364700 DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znac276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The mortality rate is low in endocrine surgery, making it a difficult outcome to use for quality improvement in individual units. Lessons from population data sets are of value in improving outcomes. Data from the Australian and New Zealand Audit of Surgical Mortality (ANZASM) were used here to understand and elucidate potential systems issues that may contribute to preventable deaths. METHODS ANZASM data relating to 30-day mortality after thyroidectomy, parathyroidectomy, and adrenalectomy from 2009 to 2020 were reviewed. Mortality rates were calculated using billing data. Thematic analysis of independent assessor reports was conducted to produce a coding framework. RESULTS A total of 67 deaths were reported, with an estimated mortality rate of 0.03-0.07 per cent (38 for thyroidectomy (0.03-0.06 per cent), 16 for parathyroidectomy (0.03-0.06 per cent), 13 for adrenalectomy (0.15-0.33 per cent)). Twenty-seven deaths (40 per cent) were precipitated by clinically significant adverse events, and 18 (27 per cent) were judged to be preventable by independent ANZASM assessors. Recurrent themes included inadequate preoperative assessment, lack of anticipation of intraoperative pitfalls, and failure to recognize and effectively address postoperative complications. Several novel themes were reiterated, such as occult ischaemic heart disease associated with death after parathyroid surgery, unexpected intraoperative difficulties from adrenal metastasis, and complications due to anticoagulation therapy after thyroid surgery. CONCLUSION This study represents a large-scale national report of deaths after endocrine surgery and provides insights into these rare events. Although the overall mortality rate is low, 27 per cent of deaths involved systems issues that were preventable following independent peer review.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Robert Mechera
- Endocrine Surgery Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital, Northern Sydney Local Health District and Northern Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Stan B Sidhu
- Endocrine Surgery Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital, Northern Sydney Local Health District and Northern Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mark S Sywak
- Endocrine Surgery Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital, Northern Sydney Local Health District and Northern Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - James C Lee
- Department of Surgery, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Justin Gundara
- Department of Surgery, Redland Hospital, Metro South and Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Surgery, Logan Hospital, Metro South and School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Logan, Australia
| | - Christine Lai
- Division of Surgery, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Department of Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Anthony R Glover
- Correspondence to: Anthony R. Glover, Royal North Shore Hospital Level 3, Endocrine and Oncology, ASB, St Leonards, New South Wales, 2065, Australia (e-mail: )
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Murshed I, Gupta AK, Kovoor JG, Maddern GJ. Surgical inter-hospital transfers: life saver or resource drainer? ANZ J Surg 2022; 92:1300-1301. [PMID: 35688641 PMCID: PMC9328366 DOI: 10.1111/ans.17786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ishraq Murshed
- Discipline of Surgery, The University of Adelaide, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Aashray K Gupta
- Discipline of Surgery, The University of Adelaide, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Gold Coast University Hospital, Southport, Queensland, Australia
| | - Joshua G Kovoor
- Discipline of Surgery, The University of Adelaide, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Guy J Maddern
- Discipline of Surgery, The University of Adelaide, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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McCahy P. Potentially avoidable urology mortality in Australia. ANZ J Surg 2020; 90:653. [DOI: 10.1111/ans.15890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Philip McCahy
- Victorian Audit of Surgical MortalityRoyal Australasian College of Surgeons Melbourne Victoria Australia
- School of Clinical SciencesMonash University Melbourne Victoria Australia
- Department of UrologyMonash Health and Central Gippsland Health Service Melbourne Victoria Australia
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