An evaluation into the effectiveness of surgical safety checklists in veterinary procedures

Abstract

Background: Extensive research has been conducted evaluating surgical safety checklists in human medicine, but comparative research is lacking within veterinary medicine. Aim To evaluate the possible benefits of applying a surgical safety checklist to veterinary procedures. Methods: The checklist, created by the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists (AVA), was applied to roughly 50% of patients undergoing surgical procedures in a veterinary practice in Edinburgh, Scotland during an 8-week period in 2020. The remaining 50% was not subjected to a checklist and was therefore used as a control group. Results: With the application of the checklist, the practices participating in the study experienced a 4% decrease in postoperative complications, although this was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The frequency of postoperative complications after surgical procedures reduced following the introduction of surgical safety checklists.