The importance of the safe surgery protocol as an action to reduce adverse events

Abstract

This is a qualitative literature review with an exploratory and descriptive approach, aimed at analyzing the effectiveness of the Safe Surgery Protocol in preventing adverse events (AEs) in surgical settings. The research was conducted through the analysis of scientific publications indexed in databases such as SciELO, LILACS, PubMed, BVS, and Google Scholar, prioritizing materials published between 2020 and 2025, as well as technical documents from official bodies such as the Ministry of Health, ANVISA, PAHO, and professional councils. Descriptors related to patient safety and the safe surgery protocol were used. The selection included full-text articles in Portuguese that directly addressed the proposed topic, excluding those with inadequate methodology or lacking scientific rigor. The results show that the application of the protocol significantly contributes to reducing errors and complications during surgical procedures, reinforcing the need for continuous training of the multidisciplinary team. It is concluded that the systematic implementation of the protocol represents an effective strategy to ensure patient safety and improve the quality of healthcare services.