JANUARY JOGC JANVIER 2013 l S1 systematic reviews, randomized control trials/controlled clinical trials, and observational studies. Searches were updated on a regular basis and incorporated in the guideline to January 2012. Values: The quality of evidence was rated with use of the criteria described by the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care. Recommendations for practice were ranked according to the method described by the Task Force (Table). Beneits, harms, and costs: Implementation of the guideline recommendations will improve the health and well-being of women undergoing obstetrical or gynaecologic surgery. Summary StatementS and recommendationS Summary Statements 1. Surgery may account for up to 40% of all hospital adverse events. (II-2) 2. Good communication is essential for safer surgical care, as communication failure is common in the operating room. (III) 3. The concept of a surgical safety checklist has been studied globally, and there have been decreases in complications and mortality when the checklist has been implemented. (II-1) 4. Emergency cases such as a “crash” Caesarean section will require a modiied approach that is centre- and situation- dependent. (III) 5. The SOGC endorses the adoption of the surgical safety checklist in obstetrics and gynaecology. (III) recommendations 1. The surgical safety checklist should be adopted by all surgical care providers and their respective institutions to improve patient safety. (II-1A) 2. Surgeons should be familiar with, advocate for the use of, and participate in all 3 parts of the surgical safety checklist. (II-1A) 3. The surgical safety checklist may be modiied and adapted for use in surgical obstetrics cases. (II-2A) No. 286, January 2013 SoGc clinical practice Guideline Surgical Safety Checklist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology this document reflects emerging clinical and scientific advances on the date issued and is subject to change. the information should not be construed as dictating an exclusive course of treatment or procedure to be followed. local institutions can dictate amendments to these opinions. they should be well documented if modified at the local level. none of these contents may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the SoGc. this clinical practice guideline has been reviewed by the clinical practice Gynaecology committee and reviewed and approved by the executive and council of the Society of obstetricians and Gynaecologists of canada. principal autHorS Sukhbir S. Singh, MD, Ottawa ON Neeraj Mehra, MD, Ottawa ON Laura Hopkins, MD, Ottawa ON clinical practice GynaecoloGy committee Nicholas Leyland, MD (Co-Chair), Ancaster ON Wendy Wolfman, MD (Co-Chair), Toronto ON Catherine Allaire, MD, Vancouver BC Alaa Awadalla, MD, Winnipeg MB Sheila Dunn, MD, Toronto ON Mark Heywood, MD, Vancouver BC Madeleine Lemyre, MD, Quebec QC Violaine Marcoux, MD, Ville Mont-Royal QC Chantal Menard, RN, Ottawa ON Frank Potestio, MD, Thunder Bay ON David Rittenberg, MD, Halifax NS Sukhbir S. Singh, MD, Ottawa ON Disclosure statements have been received from all members of the committee. Key Words: Patient safety, surgical safety checklist J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2012;35(1 eSuppl B):S1–S5 abstract objective: To provide guidance on the implementation of a surgical safety checklist (SSCL) in the practice of obstetrics and gynaecology. outcomes: Outcomes evaluated include the impact of the SSCL on surgical morbidity and mortality. evidence: Medline databases were searched for articles on subjects related to “Surgical Safety Checklist” published in English from January 2001 to January 2011. Results were restricted to