Unexpected Deaths in the Hospital: A Twelve Year Retrospective Review in a Belgian University Hospital

Aims and objectives: To study the prevalence, characteristics and circumstances of unexpected in-ward deaths in a Belgian university hospital, in order to delineate future prevention strategy. Methods: Twelve year review. Unexpected in-ward deaths were listed from a local questionnaire (database) on the characteristics and circumstances of each in-hospital death. Comparison of variables was made with expected deaths. Medical and nursing notes of patients who died unexpectedly were then reviewed, with particular attention to the premonitory signs (abnormal physiological parameters or presumed r... Mehr ...