Laceration: Clinical and System Review Incident Analyses
​Given the broad range of potential causes of laceration/puncture,Ìýclinical and system reviews should be conducted to identify potential causes and determine appropriate recommendations.
Occurrences of harm are often complex with many contributing factors. Organizations need to:
- Measure and monitor the types and frequency of these occurrences.
- Use appropriate analytical methods to understand the contributing factors.
- Identify and implement solutions or interventions that are designed to prevent recurrence and reduce risk of harm.
- Have mechanisms in place to mitigate consequences of harm when it occurs.
To develop a more in-depth understanding of the care delivered to patients, chart audits, incident analyses and prospective analyses can be helpful in identifying quality improvement opportunities. Links to key resources forÌýconducting chart auditsÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýanalysis methodsÌýare included in theÌýHospital Harm Improvement Resources Introduction.
If your review reveals that your cases of laceration-puncture are linked to specific processes or procedures, you may find these resources helpful:
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality -Ìý
- Toolkit for using the AHRQ quality indicators:Ìý How to improve hospital quality and safety. Selected best practices and suggestions for improvement PSI 15: Accidental puncture or laceration (Last reviewed 2017).Ìý
- Association of periOperative Nurses (AORN) -Ìý
- . (2019).Ìý
- AORN .
- AORN Position statement on patient safety (2017).Ìý
- Canadian Medical Protective Association -Ìý
- Working with medical equipment - Reducing the risks. 2012. Available at:Ìý
- Managing the medico-legal risks of placing a central line. 2011. Available at:Ìý
- Canadian Patient Safety InstituteÌý
- . (2016).
- National Health Services -Ìý
- Chest drains: risks associated with the insertion of chest drains (2008). Archived 2010. Available atÌýÌý Ìý
- NICE –Ìý
- NICE interventional procedures guidance -ÌýÌý
- Guidance on the use of ultrasound locating devices for placing central venous catheters (Published 2002; Reviewed
- 2016)ÌýSnip – it Safety (2004). Available atÌý
- Robotic-assisted surgery: Focus on training and credentialing. 2014.Ìý
- Distractions in the operating room.Ìý 2014. Available atÌý
- Fetal lacerations associated with cesarean section (2004). Available atÌý
- The American College of Surgeons (ACS) -Ìý
- Statement on patient safety in the operating room: team care (2018). Available atÌý
- Statement on distractions in the operating room (2016). Available atÌý
- (2016).Ìý
- Revised statement on recommendations for use of real-time ultrasound guidance for placement of central venous catheters (2011). Available atÌý
- Revised statement on sharps safety (2016). Available atÌý
- The New England Journal of Medicine: Videos in Clinical Medicine Ìý
- Chest-Tube insertion (2007). Available atÌý
- Central venous catheter insertion:
- Ultrasound-guided internal jugular vein cannulation (2010). Available atÌý
- Placement of a femoral venous catheter (2008).Ìý Available atÌý
- Central Venous catheterization — subclavian vein (2007). Available atÌý
- Ultrasound-guided cannulation of the subclavian vein (2018). Available atÌý

Laceration
