• N P Edomwonyi, B Eluwa, E P Osaigbovo, N E Omo, and A Rupasinghe.
• Department of Anaesthesiology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, P. M. B. 1111, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
• East Afr Med J. 2005 Feb 1;82(2):66-72.

ObjectivesTo identify and quantitate anaesthesia related complications in the intraoperative period and in the post anaesthesia recovery room.DesignA prospective study.SettingUniversity of Benin Teaching Hospital; a University-affiliated tertiary centre.SubjectsPatients scheduled for elective and emergency surgery under anaesthesia. Obstetric patients were excluded.ResultsOut of the 700 patients studied, intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded in 221 (31.6%) patients. Data showed a higher incidence of postoperative complications. P = 0.0001, X2 = 19.343, Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.5116, 95% CI: 0.3800-0.6886. The differences were statistically significant. The incidence of cardiovascular, central nervous system and respiratory complications were also higher in the postoperative period than intraoperative period. There were two cases of cardiac arrest both in the intraoperative period and in the recovery room. A higher incidence of both intraoperative and recovery room complications was observed in females than in males. P = <0.0001; X2 = 16.951 (with Yate's correction); OR = 2.066; 95% CI: 1.468-2.908. The difference was considered extremely significant. There was one case of mortality intraoperatively and one postoperatively. P = 1.000; OR = 1.772; 95% CI: 0.1093-28.743.ConclusionOur study showed a high incidence of complications both in the intraoperative period and in the recovery room. Complication rate was higher in females than males. The incidence of complications was also higher in the elderly patients.

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