Review Articles

The United Kingdom National Audit Projects: a narrative review

Gareth Thomas, Tim M. Cook
Southern African Journal of Anaesthesia and Analgesia | Vol 22, No 2 | a820 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/22201181.2016.1154290 | © 2016 Gareth Thomas, Tim M Cook | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 03 November 2025 | Published: 05 May 2016

About the author(s)

Gareth Thomas, Core Trainee in Anaesthesia, Royal United Hospital Bath, NHS Foundation Trust, Bath, United Kingdom
Tim M. Cook, Royal United Hospital, Bath, United Kingdom; and, Royal College of Anaesthetists, United Kingdom

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Abstract

The Royal College of Anaesthetists’ National Audit Project (NAP) programme has been running in its current form since 2006. Since NAP3 was commissioned the NAPs have examined rare but important complications of anaesthesia and related sub- specialties. The topics covered include major complications of central neuraxial block (NAP3), major complications of airway management in hospitals (NAP4) and accidental awareness during general anaesthesia (NAP5). NAP6 is currently studying severe perioperative anaphylaxis. The NAPs have shed new light on the major complications of anaesthesia, providing both quantitative (frequencies, prevalence, incidence, risk factors) and qualitative (themes, patient stories, human factors) knowledge that has led to new learning, recommendations and changes in practice. This article describes the background, nature and processes of the NAPs.

Keywords

audit; anaesthesia; central neuraxial blockade; airway; awareness; complications

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