• P R O C Adobamen and Nkemakolam U Okata.
• Ear, Nose, Throat, Head & Neck Surgery Department, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, P.M.B. 1111, Benin City, Nigeria. brotherpaulchima@yahoo.com
• Nig Q J Hosp Med. 2012 Apr 1; 22 (2): 121-4.

BackgroundApart from severe psychological effect on members of the health team involved, peri-operative deathcan also have far reaching effects on the surgeon, hospital and the community. Peri-operative death has also been categorized as being avoidable and non-avoidable.ObjectiveThis study was therefore carried out to identify the factors that led to peri-operative deaths in our practice, with the aim of proferring preventive strategies.MethodsAll cases of peri-operative deaths associated with ear, nose, throat, head and neck(ENTH&N) surgeries in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH),Benin city, between January, 2001 and January, 2011 were prospectively surveyed.ResultsThere were 6 peri-operative deaths out of a total of 1,138 recorded ear, nose, throat, head and neck surgeries in the UBTH during the study period. This gives a peri-operative mortality rate of 0.53% for ENTH & N surgeries. Most of the peri-operative deaths were associated with advanced head and neck cancers, tracheostomies and emergency procedures. Inexperience on the part of resident anaesthetists and surgeons, non-availability of critically needed blood and poor training of health personnel on post-tracheostomy patient management, were the main factors identified in the causation of the peri-operative deaths.ConclusionClose supervision of residents by consultants, proper hospital funding and the requisite training of all health personnel are the recommendation to prevent these tragedies.

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