Measure - Surgical Care Improvement Project

Scientific evidence shows that the following measures represent the best practices for preventing complications after certain surgeries: colon surgery, hip replacement, knee replacement, abdominal and vaginal hysterectomy, cardiac surgery (including coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG)), and vascular surgery.

Administering an antibiotic to outpatient at the right time, within one hour prior to surgery

Hospitals can prevent surgical wound infections. Medical research shows that surgical patients who are given antibiotics within the hour before their surgery are less likely to get wound infections.

The timing is important: getting an antibiotic earlier, or after surgery begins, is not as effective. Hospital staff should make sure patients get antibiotics at the right time.

Higher percentages are better.

Administering an antibiotic within one hour before surgery to help prevent infection

Surgical wound infections can be prevented. Medical research shows that surgery patients who get antibiotics within the hour before their surgery are less likely to get wound infections.

The timing is important: getting an antibiotic earlier, or after surgery begins, is not as effective. Hospital staff should make sure surgery patients get antibiotics at the right time.

Higher percentages are better.

Discontinuing preventive antibiotics within 24 hours after surgery

Antibiotics are often given to patients before surgery to prevent infection.

Taking these antibiotics for more than 24 hours after routine surgery is usually not necessary. Continuing the medication longer than necessary can increase the risk of side effects such as stomach aches and serious types of diarrhea. Also, when antibiotics are used for too long, patients can develop resistance to them and the antibiotics won't work as well.

Higher percentages are better.

Providing treatment to patients within 24 hours before or within 24 hours after surgery to help prevent blood clots after certain types of surgery

Many factors influence a surgical patient's risk of developing a blood clot, including the type of surgery. When patients stay still for a long time after some types of surgery, they are more likely to develop a blood clot in the veins of the legs, thighs, or pelvis. A blood clot slows down the flow of blood, causing swelling, redness, and pain. A blood clot can also break off and travel to other parts of the body. If the blood clot gets into the lung, it is a serious problem that can sometimes cause death.

Treatments to help prevent blood clots from forming after surgery include blood-thinning medications, elastic support stockings, or mechanical air stockings that help with blood flow in the legs. These treatments need to be started at the right time, which is typically during the period that begins 24 hours before surgery and ends 24 hours after surgery.

Higher percentages are better.

At the physician’s order, providing treatments to prevent blood clots after certain types of surgeries

Certain surgeries increase the risk that the patient will develop a blood clot (venous thromboembolism). When patients stay still for a long time after some types of surgery, they are more likely to develop a blood clot in the veins of the legs, thighs, or pelvis. A blood clot slows down the flow of blood, causing swelling, redness, and pain. A blood clot can also break off and travel to other parts of the body. If the blood clot gets into the lung, it becomes a serious problem that can cause death.

To help prevent blood clots from forming after surgery, doctors can order treatments to be used just before or after the surgery. These include blood-thinning medications, elastic support stockings, or mechanical air stockings that help with blood flow in the legs.

Higher percentages are better.