The Swedish Perioperative Register: Description, validation of data mapping and utility

Abstract

Background: Since 2013 surgical units in Sweden have reported procedures to the national Swedish Perioperative Register (SPOR). More than four million cases have been documented. Data consist of patient ID, type of surgery, diagnoses, time stamps during the perioperative process (from the decision to operate to the time of discharge from the postoperative recovery area) and quality measures. This article aims to describe SPOR and validate data mapping. Also, we wished to illustrate the utility of the SPOR in assessing variations in national surgical capacity during the COVID-19 pandemia years 2020-2021.Methods: After a detailed description of SPOR, we report on the validation of data performed by comparing data from local databases with data stored in the central SPOR database, assessing missing values and accuracy. Effects of the pandemic on surgical capacity were described by developing an index, based on the number of performed surgical procedures per week during four production weeks in January 2020. Subsequent weeks were then compared with this baseline. Results:The validation effort demonstrated nearly 100% data accuracy for the number and type of surgical procedures between local and central data. Missing data was a problem for some parameters. The number of performed surgical procedures decreased dramatically from week 11 in 2020 compared with normal production on a national basis, mainly impairing elective surgery.Discussion: Data validation revealed good agreement between local and central databases. The changes in national surgical capacity during the pandemic were illustrated by an index based on the reported surgical production.

The Nordic perioperative and intensive care registries—Collaboration and research possibilities

“…It is worth mentioning that the Norwegian Intensive Care Registry (NIR) during spring 2020 was expanded to the Norwegian Intensive Care and Pandemic Registry (NIPaR), and that ICU capacity is now a part of the registry data set, as it is in the Danish Intensive Care Database. A recent study from the SPOR demonstrates how registries also can be used to assess variations in capacity 42 …”

“…A recent study from the SPOR demonstrates how registries also can be used to assess variations in capacity. 42…”

Swedish registry study showed that 50% of paediatric operations were performed in university hospitals and mortality was low

“…The Swedish Perioperative Registry collects data from the vast majority of performed surgeries and non‐operative procedures requiring general anaesthesia or sedation in government hospitals in Sweden 10 . A validation of the Swedish Perioperative Registry demonstrated nearly 100% data accuracy for the number and type of surgical procedures between local and central data 10 . The Registry has regular access to Swedish population indexes such as the Cause of Death Register, giving automatic updates on mortality 10 .…”

“…10 The Registry has regular access to Swedish population indexes such as the Cause of Death Register, giving automatic updates on mortality. 10 The goal with this register is to facilitate audits and enhance the overall quality of anaesthesia and surgical care for the patients.…”

How to improve perioperative pathways for the patient and society

“…2 In this edition of Acta, Holmström et al describe the utilisation and usefulness of data from SPOR. 3 The registry collects cohesive data from the perioperative process, starting from the time of the decision to operate until discharge from nearly every Swedish hospital. They collect up to 159 variables from each patient through the perioperative process.…”