Anaesthetic-Associated Mortality

The most important measure of the safety of anaesthesia for the patient is the incidence of anaesthetic-contributory death. Evidence is presented from an ongoing survey of anaesthetic-associated mortality at Groote Schuur Hospital, that the incidence of anaesthetic-contributory death has decreased from 0,33 to 0,22 per 1 000 anaesthetics. Reasons for this improvement in the safety of anaesthesia and some of the clinical lessons that emerge from the survey are discussed. The incidence of cardiac arrest in the operating theatre (0,63°/00 anaesthetics) and the results of resuscitation (19% survival) are presented.S. Afr. Med. J. 48, 550 (1974