Postoperative emergency response team activation at a large tertiary medical center.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To study characteristics and outcomes associated with emergency response team (ERT) activation in postsurgical patients discharged to regular wards after anesthesia.

Patients and methods

We identified all ERT activations that occurred within 48 hours after surgery from June 1, 2008, through December 31, 2009, in patients discharged from the postanesthesia care unit to regular wards. For each ERT case, up to 2 controls matched for age (±10 years), sex, and type of procedure were identified. A chart review was performed to identify factors that may be associated with ERT activation.

Results

We identified 181 postoperative ERT calls, 113 (62%) of which occurred within 12 hours of discharge from the postanesthesia care unit, for an incidence of 2 per 1000 anesth

SUBMITTER: Weingarten TN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3538389 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature