Checklist in colorectal surgery – proposal of experts of the Polish Club of Coloproctology and National Consultant in general surgery

Abstract

A checklist is a collection of information that helps reduce the risk of failure due to limitations in human memory and attention. In surgery, the first Surgical Safety Checklist (SSC), created under the supervision of WHO (World Health Organization), was established in 2007 and covers three stages related to the patient's stay in the operating theater and operation: 1. Prior to initiation (induction) of anesthesia; 2. before cutting the skin; 3. before the patient leaves the operating room Colorectal surgery is particularly at high risk for complications and relatively high mortality. Elimination or, more likely, reducing the risk of complications by standardizing perioperative procedures may be particularly important in this group. The introduction of "dedicated" colorectal checklist surgery seems to be justified. The checklist proposed by the authors in colorectal surgery is divided into four stages, in which conscientious completion of checklists is intended to reduce the potential risk of complications due to hospitalization and surgical treatment. The presented checklist is obviously not closed, as a new publications or recommendations appear, some points may be modified, new issues may be added to the checklist. At present, however, it is a tool considering the well-known and confirmed elements of intraoperative procedures, the compliance of which may significantly reduce the rate of adverse events or surgical complications.