Annual and Perioperative Safety reports
The Victorian Perioperative Consultative Council (VPCC) annual reports contains data, trends, and identified improvements in perioperative care in Victoria. These insights are based on cases reported and reviewed by VPCC.
Victorian Perioperative Consultative Council – Annual Report 2023
Victorian Perioperative Consultative Council – Annual Report 2022
Victorian Perioperative Consultative Council – Annual Report 2021
Victorian Perioperative Consultative Council – Annual Report 2020
Victorian Perioperative Consultative Council – Annual Report 2019
For reports from 2012–2017, see past VCCAMM and VSCC reports.
All surgery carries some risk. Even when the best perioperative care has been provided, sadly, each year a small number of patients experience complications and, in some instances, die during or after surgery. Many of these deaths are not preventable however, in some instances, death is an unexpected outcome. It is critical that we learn from these cases and continuously improve care before, during and after surgery, for all Victorians.
Clinical practice points
The VPCC clinical practice points reflect the findings from review of cases of perioperative mortality and significant morbidity. Clinical practice points direct health services and clinicians towards the improvements required in their services or in their own clinical practice.
Clinical case reports and themes of concern are received from:
- the Anaesthesia Subcommittee
- the Surgical Subcommittee
- the Victorian Audit of Surgical Mortality
- sentinel event reporting
- coroner depositions
- direct reports to the VPCC.
All health services and clinicians should develop a plan to consider good practice points in the context of their settings and implement those that will improve the care they provide.
VPCC will be monitoring reports relating to the clinical practice areas listed below, and update practice points or recommendations as required.
Considerations for a two-surgeon model of care
Methadone use in the postoperative setting
Postoperative monitoring and management of bowel function
“Code Airway” – A proposed hospital code to attract skilled staff to airway crises
Nerve injury from prolonged lower limb compression and non-invasive blood pressure monitoring
Recommendations and advisories
The VPCC provides expert recommendations and advisory support for various incidents requiring specialised knowledge. The VPCC is often called upon to offer guidance on system-level factors contributing to adverse clinical outcomes – often in complex involving high-risk patients.
By leveraging its expertise, VPCC contributes to the development of strategies and best practices aimed at improving patient safety, reducing risks, and ensuring high-quality care.
The following recommendations, documents or guidelines have been developed by VPCC or are supported by VPCC
- Recommendation to endorse Queensland Health’s Difficult Airway Alert form (2021) (VPCC Annual Report 2021, page 34)
- Emergency Laparotomy Workshop Recommendations (2022) (VPCC Annual Report, page 31-33)
- Recommendations for deep neck space infections (VPCC Annual Report 2022, page 27)
- Recommendations for theatre fires related to supplemental oxygen (2024)
- Recommendations to develop or use the Good Transfer Practice: Transferring for Escalation of Care Checklist (VPCC Annual Report – Appendix 6, 2021)
- Recommendations for central venous catheter insertion management
- Supported the Sip Til Send fluid fasting guidance
- Supported the Testicular torsion – Clinical practice points.