It’s time for the perioperative community to recommit to the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist

Abstract

For over a decade, the World Health Organization (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist has been recognised as an essential perioperative safety tool. The first landmark multi-national study demonstrated a remarkable 47 per cent reduction in mortality and a 36 per cent reduction in surgical complications, which was confirmed in subsequent studies. Although effective in a research environment, the checklist has been challenging to implement. Today, hospitals worldwide still struggle to use the checklist as designed and maintain enthusiasm for its sustained use. Is it time for the perioperative health care community to revisit the checklist and recommit to safer surgery?