A FOUR YEAR ACROSS SURGICAL DISCIPLINE PERIOPERATIVE AND INTRAOPERATIVE EXPERIENCE OF PATIENT MANAGEMENT IN A TERTIARY ACADEMIC HOSPITAL - A REVIEW.

BACKGROUND: There has been a growing trend in the surgical literature to report mortality and morbidity after surgery with preoperative risk adjustment to facilitate meaningful comparisons of surgical outcomes between different surgeons and hospitals. This is a review of the rate of injuries caused by surgeons unintentionally whilst performing procedures in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology, for example, caesarean sections and hysterectomies.

METHOD: Data was collected retrospectively over the past four years at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital utilising the database and theatre records correlated with patient files.

RESULTS: A total of 182 cases were collected spanning the four years reviewed. The injuries were grouped according to the type of injury sustained. Iatrogenic injury to the bladder was the highest at 28.6%. Injury to the right ureter (21.4%) was higher than injuries sustained to the left ureter (12.1%). A combination of bladder and uretric injury was 8.2%. Injuries to the small bowel (17.6%), large bowel (6.6%) and rectum (2.8%). Vascular injuries (2.2%).

CONCLUSION: The incidence of gynaecological iatrogenic injury during caesarean section and hysterectomy is higher at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital than what is reportedly worldwide.