Attitude of Nigerian surgeons to intraoperative deaths

Abstract

To assess the attitude ofNigerian surgeons to intra operative deaths. A scenario based questionnaire on the subject was distributed to 100 participants at a National meeting of surgeons inBeninCity in 2004. Sixty-three questionnaireswere returned (Response rate of 63%). One questionnairewas disregarded having been completed by a histopathologist. Respondents included 50 consultant surgeons, 2 consultant anaesthetists, 8 senior registrars and 2 registrars from surgery. 21 (33.9%) respondents opined that the rest of the list be cancelled following an intra operative death while 41 (66.1%) felt the list should continue. Of the 62 respondents 31 (50%) had experienced death of a patient on elective list. Forty four (71%) respondents felt that the surgeons and anaesthetists involved in the intra operative death of a patient would benefit from psychotherapy. This study revealed that surgeons of varied subspecialty interests would want the rest of the elective list to continue following the intra operative death of a patient but that some form of psychotherapy is given to the surgeons and anaesthetists involved.

Keywords: Nigerian surgeons, attitude, intra operative death.