Researchers conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study from April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2015, in Ontario, Canada. They examined adult patients undergoing major surgeries expected to last at least two hours and requiring a hospital stay of at least one night.
The study’s primary outcome was a composite of all-cause death, hospital readmission or major postoperative complications within 30 days postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were the individual components of the primary outcome.
Of the 313,066 patients examined, 5,941 patients underwent surgery with complete handover of anesthesia care. In the unweighted sample, 44 percent of patient in the complete handover group experienced the primary outcome as compared to 29 percent of the no handover group.
After adjustment, the study shows that complete handovers were significantly associated with an increased risk of the primary outcome and major complications, but not with hospital readmission within 30 days of surgery.
“These findings may support limiting complete anesthesia handovers,” study authors concluded.
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