The Thai Anesthesia Incidents Study (THAI Study) of Anesthetic Outcomes: I Description of Methods and Populations
Somrat Charuluxananan MD*, Suwannee Suraseranivongse MD**, Yodying Punjasawadwong, MD***, Wanna Somboonviboon MD*, Thana Nipitsukarn MD***, Thepakorn Sothikarnmanee MD****, Mayuree Vasinanukorn MD*****, Thewarug Werawatganon MD*, Surasak Tanudsintum MD******, Varinee Lekprasert MD*******, Thanoo Hintong MD***
Affiliation : * Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok. ** Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok. *** Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai. **** Department of Anesthesiology, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen. ***** Department of Anesthesiology, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla. ****** Department of Anesthesiology, Phramangkutklao College of Medicinal, Bangkok. ******* Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Background and rationale : Since anesthesia, unlike medical or surgical specialties, does not constitute treat-
ment, The Royal College of Anesthesiologists of Thailand host the Thai Anesthesia Incidents Study (THAI
Study) of anesthetic outcomes to determine factors related to anesthesia related adverse events.
Materials and Methods : A prospective descriptive study of occurrence screening was conducted in 20 hospitals
comprised of 7 university, 4 general and 4 district hospitals across Thailand. Anesthesia personnels were
required to fill up patient-related, surgical-related, anesthesia-related variables and adverse outcomes on a
strutured data entry form. The data included preanesthetic evaluation intraoperative period and 24 hr post-
operative period. Adverse events specific form was recorded when adverse events occurred. All data were
keyed in data management unit with double entry technique and descriptive statistics was used in the first phase
of this study.
Results : A total of 163403 consecutive cases were recorded in one year. The mean (S.D.) of age, weight and
height of patients were 38.6(2.3) yrs, 53.9(17.7) kgs and 153.4(22.7) cm respectively. There were more female
(52.9%) than male (47.1%) patients with ASA PS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 = 50.8%, 36.3%, 10.7%, 2.0%, 0.2% respectively.
Hypertension (11.6%), anemia (7.7%) and diabetes melitus (6.8%) were the three most common abnormalities
in preanesthetic history taking. Mallampati score of 111870 patients grade 1, 2, 3, 4 were 54.0%, 39.7%, 5.6%,
0.7% and laryngoscopic grade 1, 2, 3, 4 of 74888 patients were 81.0%, 15.5%, 3.0% and 0.5% respectively.
Conclusion : The first phase of THAI study epidemiological project can represent both the anesthesia and
surgical profiles in Thailand. The collected data available should be useful for the improvement of the quality
of anesthesia, guidelines for clinical practices, medical education and for further research.
Keywords : Anesthesia, outcome, Complication, Adverse events, Multicenter, Epidemiology
