LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY: INFLUENCE OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A CHECKLIST FOR THE PROPER PREPARATION OF THE OPERATING ROOM

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate the impact of the implementation of a checklist to obtain an optimal setting of the operating room for laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgeries. Methods: it’s a prospective, controlled, non-randomized study. The usefulness of checklist implementation was studied to know the incidence of adverse events related to operating room preparation for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Two groups, group A (checklist group), and group B (control, without the implementation of a checklist) were compared. For statistical purposes, adverse events were classified according to their nature in “Absence and/or position” and “defect and/or configuration”. Statistical analysis was carried out using Fisher's exact test considering significant difference a p value<0.05. Results: A total of 40 procedures were studied (group A: 20, group B: 20). The incidence of adverse events related to operating room preparation was 45 %, in contrast to the control group, in which events were documented in 100 % of the procedures (p<0.001). Most of the documented events were related to hemostasis equipment or instruments. The checklist was useful in reducing adverse events related to "absence and/or position" (70 % vs. 5 %, p<0.001) but not related to "defect and/or configuration" (70 % vs. 40 %; p=0.057). Conclusions: The checklist is a useful tool in order to reduce adverse events related to the preparation of an operating room for laparoscopic cholecystectomy, but does not completely eliminate the risk of its occurrence.