The implementation and efficacy of the northwestern high risk spine protocol

Carine Zeeni, Louanne M. Carabini, Robert W. Gould, John F. Bebawy, Laura B. Hemmer, Natalie C. Moreland, Tyler R. Koski, Antoun Koht, Michael F. Schafer, Stephen L. Ondra, Dhanesh K. Gupta*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective The aims of this study were to determine the efficacy and feasibility of implementation of the intraoperative component of a high risk spine (HRS) protocol for improving perioperative patient safety in complex spine fusion surgery.

Methods In this paired availability study, the total number of red blood cell units transfused was used as a surrogate marker for our management protocol efficacy, and the number of protocol violations was used as a surrogate marker for protocol compliance.

Results The 548 patients (284 traditional vs. 264 HRS protocol) were comparable in all demographics, coexisting diseases, preoperative medications, type of surgery, and number of posterior levels instrumented. However, the surgical duration was 70 minutes shorter in the new group (range, 32-108 minutes shorter; P < 0.0001) and the new protocol patients received a median of 1.1 units less of total red blood cell units (range, 0-2.4 units less; P = 0.006). There were only 7 (2.6%) protocol violations in the new protocol group.

Conclusions The intraoperative component of the HRS protocol, based on two Do-Confirm checklists that focused on 1) organized communication between intraoperative team members and 2) active maintenance of oxygen delivery and hemostasis appears to maintain a safe intraoperative environment and was readily implemented during a 3-year period.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)E815-E823
JournalWorld neurosurgery
Volume82
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2014

Keywords

  • Checklist
  • Critical pathways
  • Hemostasis
  • Patient care team
  • Spinal fusion

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Neurology
  • Surgery

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The implementation and efficacy of the northwestern high risk spine protocol'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this