Table 9.3.

WHO’s Surgical Safety Checklist

Before induction of anesthesia	Before skin incision	Before patient leaves operating room
Sign in	Time out	Sign out
Patient has confirmed • Identity • Site • Procedure • Consent	Confirm all team members have introduced themselves by name and role	Nurse verbally confirms with the team • The name of the procedure recorded • The instrument, sponge, and needle counts are correct (or not applicable) • How the specimen is labeled (including patient name) • Whether there are any equipment problems to be addressed
Site marked/not applicable	Surgeon, anesthesia professional and nurse verbally confirm • Patient • Site • Procedure
Anesthesia safety check completed	Anticipated critical events • Surgeon reviews: What are the critical or unexpected steps, operative duration, anticipated blood loss • Anesthesia team reviews: Are there any patient -specific concerns • Nursing team reviews: Has sterility (including indicator results) been confirmed? Are there equipment issues or any concerns?	Surgeon, anesthesia professional and nurse review the key concerns for recovery and management of this patient
Pulse oximeter on patient and functioning	Has antibiotic prophylaxis been given in the last 60 min? • Yes / not applicable Is essential imaging displayed • Yes/not applicable
Does patient have a known allergy • No/yes Difficult airway /aspiration risk • No • Yes, and equipment /assistance available Risk of >500 ml blood loss (7 ml/kg in children) • No • Yes and adequate intravenous access and fluids planned