BACKGROUND: Statistical data of mortality and morbidity related to anesthesia have not been reported in Japan since World War II. The need to comprehensively examine the events of @entity1167 as well as mortality prompted the first national study in Japan. METHODS: Confidential questionnaires were sent to all Japan Society of Anesthesiologists Certified Training Hospitals every year from 1994 through 1998. Collected data were analyzed for incidence of @entity1167 and other critical events during anesthesia and surgery, and their outcomes within 7 postoperative days. The principal causes of the critical incidents were also analyzed. RESULTS: With an average response rate of 39.9%, a total of 2,363,038 cases were documented over 5 years. The average incidence per year of @entity1167 during surgery due to all etiologies and that totally attributable to anesthesia was 7.12 [95%CI: 6.30,7.94] and 1.00 [0.88, 1.12]) per 10,000 cases, respectively. The average mortality per year in the operating room or within 7 postoperative days due to all etiologies and that totally attributable to anesthesia was 7.18 [6.22, 8.13] and 0.21 [0.15, 0.27] per 10,000 cases, respectively. The two principal causes of @entity1167 during anesthesia and surgery due to all etiologies were @entity548 (31.9%) and surgery (30.2%), and those totally attributable to anesthesia were @entity1445 or selection error (15.3%) and serious @entity943 (13.9%). Preventable @entity1 errors caused 53.2% of @entity1167 and 22.2% of deaths in the operating room totally attributable to anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: The rates in Japan of @entity1167 and @entity204 during anesthesia and surgery due to all etiologies as well as those totally attributable to anesthesia are comparable to those of other developed countries.

Anesthesia-related mortality and morbidity over a 5-year period in 2,363,038 XXXX in Japan.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['human'] @entity548 :: ('MESH:D006470', 'Disease') :: ['massive hemorrhage'] @entity1167 :: ('MESH:D006323', 'Disease') :: ['cardiac arrest'] @entity943 :: ('MESH:D001145', 'Disease') :: ['arrhythmia'] @entity1445 :: ('MESH:D062787', 'Disease') :: ['drug overdose'] @entity204 :: ('MESH:D003643', 'Disease') :: ['death']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['patients']
