Background: The current incidence of major complications in paediatric craniofacial surgery in North America has not been accurately defined. In this report, the Pediatric Craniofacial Collaborative Group evaluates the incidence and determines the independent predictors of major perioperative complications using a multicentre database. Methods: The Pediatric Craniofacial Surgery Perioperative Registry was queried for subjects undergoing complex cranial vault reconstruction surgery over a 5-year period. Major perioperative complications were identified through a structured a priori consensus process. Logistic regression was applied to identify predictors of a major perioperative complication with bootstrapping to evaluate discrimination accuracy and provide internal validity of the multivariable model. Results: A total of 1814 patients from 33 institutions in the US and Canada were analysed; 15% were reported to have a major perioperative complication. Multivariable predictors included ASA physical status 3 or 4 (P¼0.005), craniofacial syndrome (P¼0.008), antifibrinolytic administered (P¼0.003), blood product transfusion >50 ml kg e1 (P<0.001), and surgery duration over 5 h (P<0.001). Bootstrapping indicated that the predictive algorithm had good internal validity and excellent

Introduction: Pediatric craniofacial reconstruction has historically resulted in extensive blood loss necessitating transfusion. This single-center quality improvement initiative evaluates the impact of perioperative practice changes on the allogeneic transfusion rate for children 24 months and younger of age undergoing craniofacial reconstruction. Methods: At project initiation, an appointed core group of anesthesiologists provided all intraoperative anesthetic care for patients undergoing craniofacial reconstruction. Standardized anesthetic guidelines established consistency between providers. Using the Plan-do-check-act methodology, practice changes had been implemented and studied over a 5-year period. Improvement initiatives included developing a temperature-management protocol, using a postoperative transfusion protocol, administering intraoperative tranexamic acid, and a preincisional injection of 0.25% lidocaine with epinephrine. For each year of the project, we acquired data for intraoperative and postoperative allogeneic transfusion rates. Results: A cohort of 119 pediatric patients, ages 4–24 months, underwent anterior or posterior vault reconstruction for craniosynostosis at a tertiary children’s hospital between March 2013 and November 2018. Intraoperative and postoperative transfusion of allogeneic blood products in this cohort decreased from 100% preintervention to 22.7% postintervention. Conclusions: Interdepartmental collaboration and practice modifications using sequential Plan-do-check-act cycles resulted in a bundle of care that leads to a sustainable decrease in the rate of intraoperative and postoperative allogeneic blood transfusions in patients less than 24 months of age undergoing craniosynostosis repair. This bundle decreases the risk of transfusion-related morbidity for these patients. Other institutions looking to achieve similar outcomes can implement this project.

Introduction: At Children's Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, the intraoperative antibiotic redosing guidelines and the time frame considered compliant for redosing were unclear. This lack of clarity plus an ill-defined process for ensuring intraoperative antibiotic redosing resulted in a compliance rate of 11%. The organization's surgical site infection (SSI) rate was 3.19%, above the national benchmark of 1.87%. The primary project goal was to increase intraoperative antibiotic redosing compliance. The secondary project goal was to decrease SSIs. Methods: With recommendations from the Infectious Disease Society of America, we developed new organizational redosing guidelines, as well as a new antibiotic-specific reminder alert in the electronic medical record. Implementation of the new guidelines and processes occurred after providing education to the anesthesiologists, surgeons, and circulating nurses. Monthly evaluation of data allowed for quick recognition of oversights followed by the initiation of process updates. Results: Data showed that the initial compliance rate for the intraoperative redosing of antibiotics was 11%. Following interventions, compliance has reached and sustained an average of 99%. Survey results show that provider knowledge of the guidelines and process has improved. Though not directly related, the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program observed that the SSI rate decreased from 3.19% in 2014 to 2.3% in 2018. Conclusions: This project demonstrates that comprehensive education along with antibiotic-specific electronic medical record alerts significantly increased the compliance of intraoperative antibiotic redosing at Children's Hospital & Medical Center. Continuous education and monthly updates sustained results for over 40 months.