Possible decrease in mortality associated with anaesthesia. A comparison of two time periods in Massachusetts, USA. Closed Claims Study Committee.

Abstract

This paper compares mortality associated with anaesthesia in Massachusetts USA, during two periods of time separated by 13 years. The denominators in the calculation of the mortality rates are not precisely comparable but there appears to be approximately a thirteenfold decrease in the death rate after general anaesthesia and a tenfold decrease after spinal anaesthesia.