Reported anaesthetic complications during an 11-year period. A retrospective study

Retrospectively 120 anaesthetic complications with potential medicolegal consequences were reviewed. Seven deaths occurred. Eighty percent of the complications were potentially avoidable. Of the complications 4.4% resulted in major morbidity and 82.3% in intermediate morbidity. Dental injuries were reported with an annual frequency of six. The use of pulse oximetry and/or capnography could possibly have prevented 18% of all complications apart from dental injuries. Ten cases were reported to the National Swedish Board of Health and Welfare; four cases resulted in disciplinary consequences. The influence of human factors on the development of complications is stressed.