Using the “5Rs for rescue” to reduce post-surgical mortality (IHI, 14 March 2023)

Summary

The number of patients who die from post-surgical complications in low- and middle-income countries is shockingly high. In Africa alone, more than 600,000 people die each year after surgery, mostly from causes that are relatively easy to treat. This blog by Pierre Barker, Chief Scientific Officer at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) looks at a method for reducing post-surgical death called the '5Rs for rescue':

1. Risk stratification
2. Recognise deterioration
3. Respond
4. Reassess
5. Reflect/Redesign

He describes how the IHI will test how to support the reliable implementation of the '5Rs for Rescue', which aims to reduce mortality by 25%.