Death after Bowel Resection: Patient Disease, Not Surgeon Error

Abstract

One hundred ninety-three patients suffered at least one complication (34.1%) and there were 20 deaths (3.5%). In 17 cases, death was deemed unavoidable due to patient disease; most occurred in patients who developed ischemic bowel while hospitalized for a serious concomitant illness. In only one case did death appear clearly related to a surgical complication (0.17%). Death after bowel resection typically reflects the need for urgent surgery in extreme circumstances and not surgeon error. Postoperative mortality rate in this population appears to be poor indicator of surgical quality.

The Scottish Audit of Surgical Mortality: a review of areas of concern related to anaesthesia over 10 years

“…Most will have been admitted as emergencies and most will die some days after surgery, making a direct link with anaesthesia difficult to confirm. In addition, most patients still die as a result of their presenting pathology [10]. Anaesthetic-associated ACONs were identified in only 8% of the 0.6% of surgical admissions who died after surgery where an anaesthetist was present, with the result that opportunities to reduce mortality further may be limited, particularly in emergency surgery.…”