Anaesthetic mortality rates in Western Australia 1980-2002

The Western Australian Anaesthetic Mortality Committee has collected data since 1980. During this time, reporting of anaesthesia mortality has been mandatory in Western Australia, confidentiality and legal protection have been ensured, consistent definitions and classifications have been used, and reasonable estimates have been available for the number of surgical procedures performed. The data indicate that there was a decrease in anaesthesia-related mortality in the mid 1980s. Since then the rates have been relatively stable, in relation to both population and number of surgical procedures performed. At present, the rates are extremely low (< 1:50, 000 surgical procedures per annum), and similar to rates reported from other Australian states. While these figures are encouraging, their main function is to serve as the baseline for further improvements.