Risk assessments of drug-related problems for cardiac surgery patients

Patients undergoing cardiac surgery are considered at high risk for developing drug-related problems (DRPs) due to comorbidities and complexity of drug treatment. This study aimed to identify DRPs in patients undergoing cardiac surgery and to develop and implement a framework to reduce potential risks associated with drug treatment.

Prospectively designed quasi-experimental study.

This study consisted of observational (risk assessment and framework development) and interventional (framework implementation) periods and was conducted at a department of cardiovascular surgery in a university hospital. An expert panel evaluated the causes of DRPs. Then a framework was developed in consensus to identify safeguards to be implemented during the interventional period.

A total of 200 patients (100 patients per study period) were included. During the observational period, a total of 275 DRPs and 487 causes were identified; 74.5% of DRPs were not solved. For the risk analysis, 487 causes were evaluated and only 32.6% were considered acceptable risk. By implementing the framework in the interventional period, 215 DRPs and 304 causes were identified and 386 interventions were recommended by a clinical pharmacist. A total of 342 (88.6%) interventions were accepted by a health care team, and 128 (59.5%) DRPs were completely solved. For the risk analysis, 304 causes were evaluated and 84.9% were considered acceptable risk ( P  < .001 compared with the observational period).

It is possible to reduce risk levels or prevent occurrence of DRPs by implementing a framework for risk management developed by a multidisciplinary care team in areas such as cardiac surgery where time is limited.