RT Journal
A1 Adelman J, Chelcun J
T1 EVidence-based safe surgical practices as adjuncts to the universal protocol
JF Archives of Surgery
JO Archives of Surgery
YR 2011
FD April 1
VO 146
IS 4
SP 489
OP 489
DO 10.1001/archsurg.2011.62
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.2011.62
AB 
In their discussion, Stahel et al1 emphasized the importance of “readbacks” and strict adherence to the Universal Protocol, but they missed the opportunity to raise awareness of the roles played by the World Health Organization (WHO) surgical safety checklist and medical team training for invasive procedures. Although the Universal Protocol is based on expert opinion, there is no significant evidence to demonstrate its benefit. The WHO surgical safety checklist and medical team training, on the other hand, have been shown to significantly reduce morbidity and mortality in the operating room, and both are used to prevent the same types of errors as the Universal Protocol.2- 3 Further research is needed to better understand their effectiveness in preventing errors associated with wrong-site procedures and wrong-patient procedures, but the patient safety benefits of these approaches are clear. Because the briefings, debriefings, and teamwork emphasized in these approaches are a valued addition to the steps in the Universal Protocol, the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses has developed a comprehensive surgical checklist that combines the Universal Protocol and the WHO surgical safety checklist to maximize their benefits.4