Interruptions and distractions in the trauma operating room: understanding the threat of human error.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the human factor as a threat to the security of trauma patients in the operating room, bringing to the operating room some important rules already applied in the field of aviation. METHODS: The sample included 50 cases of surgical trauma patients prospectively collected by observers in shifts of 12 hours, for six months in a Level I trauma center in the United States of America. Information regarding the type of trauma, severity score and mortality were collected, as well as determinants of distractions / interruptions and the volume of noise in the operating room during surgery. RESULTS: There was an average of 60 interruptions or distractions during surgery, most often triggered by the movement of people in the room. In more severe patients (ISS> 45), subjected to damage control, the incidence of distractions was even greater. The average noise in the trauma surgery room was very high, close to the noise of a hair dryer. CONCLUSION: Interruptions and distractions are frequent and should be studied by the trauma surgeon to develop prevention strategies and lines of defense to minimize them and reduce their effects.

Interrupções e distrações na sala de cirurgia do trauma: entendendo a ameaça do erro humano / Interruptions and distractions in the trauma operating room: understanding the threat of human error

OBJETIVO: Compreender o fator humano como ameaça à segurança do paciente vítima de trauma no centro cirúrgico, traduzindo para a sala de operação algumas regras importantes já aplicadas no campo da aviação. MÉTODOS: A amostra incluiu 50 casos de cirurgia de trauma coletados prospectivamente por observadores em plantões de 12 horas, ,durante seis meses, em um centro de trauma nível I nos Estados Unidos da América. Informações quanto ao tipo de trauma, escore de gravidade e mortalidade foram coletadas, assim como, determinantes de distrações/interrupções e o volume de ruídos na sala de cirurgia durante o ato cirúrgico. RESULTADOS: Ocorreram, em média, 60 interrupções ou distrações durante o ato cirúrgico, na maioria das vezes desencadeado pelo movimento de pessoas na sala. Em pacientes mais graves (ISS > 45), submetidos ao controle de danos, a incidência de distrações foi ainda maior. A média de ruídos na sala de cirurgia do trauma foi muito elevada, com barulho próximo ao de um secador de cabelos. CONCLUSÃO: Interrupções e distrações são frequentes e devem ser estudadas pelo cirurgião do trauma a fim de desenvolver estratégias de prevenção e linhas de defesa para minimizá-las e reduzir seus efeitos.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the human factor as a threat to the security of trauma patients in the operating room, bringing to the operating room some important rules already applied in the field of aviation. METHODS: The sample included 50 cases of surgical trauma patients prospectively collected by observers in shifts of 12 hours, for six months in a Level I trauma center in the United States of America. Information regarding the type of trauma, severity score and mortality were collected, as well as determinants of distractions / interruptions and the volume of noise in the operating room during surgery. RESULTS: There was an average of 60 interruptions or distractions during surgery, most often triggered by the movement of people in the room. In more severe patients (ISS> 45), subjected to damage control, the incidence of distractions was even greater. The average noise in the trauma surgery room was very high, close to the noise of a hair dryer. CONCLUSION: Interruptions and distractions are frequent and should be studied by the trauma surgeon to develop prevention strategies and lines of defense to minimize them and reduce their effects.