Table 1

Incidents that occurred during the process of care

Step in process
Department
Incident
Outcome

Preoperative assessment
Surgery/Urology
Failure to warn or notify patient to stop gabapentin*
Hemorrhage, purpura (after surgery)

Surgery
Surgery/Urology
Failure to stop bleeding
Hemorrhage, swelling, pain, worry





Failure to install drains
Swelling, pain

Post-operative process
Emergency
Failure to be seen by physician
Delay, swelling, pain, worry





Failure to call urology resident
Delay in being seen





Failure to triage and to recognize ongoing bleeding
Near syncope



Surgery/Urology
Lack of beds
Waiting without supervision (risky for many reasons)



Emergency, Surgery/Urology
Inexperienced residents recommending overly conservative "watch and wait"
Continued swelling, purpura, pain, worry





Attending not seeing patient
Expert assessment not provided

Second preoperative assessment
Surgery/Urology
Released without being seen
Expert assessment not provided

Second surgery
Anesthesia
Failure to warn or notify patient to stop gabapentin
Longer recovery


Surgery/Urology
Inexpert IV insertion
Hemorrhage, purpura (in arm)



Long wait for surgery
Swelling, pain, worry

*Note that gabapentin can increase vasodilation and purpura in 1% of patients. The health system of interest appropriately asks patients at multiple points in the process of care as to what medications they take; however, there was never a suggestion that the patient should stop taking this drug.

Lee et al. Patient Safety in Surgery 2009 3:1   doi:10.1186/1754-9493-3-1