Evolving Trends in Safe Surgery in Otolaryngology: Experience from a Tertiary Care Centre

• Published in: Indian journal of otolaryngology, and head, and neck surgery and head, and neck surgery, 2024-12, Vol.76 (6), p.5731-5739
• Main Authors: Kumar, Sanjay, Dutta, Debmita, Dutta, Angshuman, Dwivedi, Surjeet, Singh, Roohie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Decision making; Head and Neck Surgery; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Original Article; Otolaryngology; Otorhinolaryngology; Patient satisfaction; Surgery; Surgical outcomes; Trends
• ISSN: 2231-3796; 0973-7707
• DOI: 10.1007/s12070-024-05075-y

Surgical outcomes in otolaryngology have improved with advancements in safety protocols, technology, and patient-centered care. Despite these improvements, surgical complications remain a concern, necessitating continuous evaluation. This study aimed to examine the trends in safe surgery practices and patient outcomes over two years at a tertiary care otolaryngology center, focusing on preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases, as well as patient involvement in decision-making. A retrospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary care otolaryngology center from January 2022 to December 2023. The study included 200 patients who underwent various otolaryngological procedures. Data were collected from hospital records, patient surveys, and follow-up assessments. Key data points included demographics, preoperative assessments, intraoperative details, postoperative outcomes, and patient involvement. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 27, with descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, t-tests, and regression analysis to assess the impact of safety protocols and advanced tools on outcomes. Adherence to safety protocols reduced intraoperative complications from 20 to 10% and postoperative complications from 40 to 20%. Advanced technological tools reduced mean surgery duration from 125 to 100 min and mean recovery time from 8 to 7 days. Shared decision-making improved patient satisfaction scores, averaging 8.5 compared to 6.5 for those without it. The complication rate was also lower in patients involved in shared decision-making (13.3%) compared to those who were not (60%). The results highlight the importance of safety protocols, advanced technology, and patient involvement in improving surgical outcomes in otolaryngology. The reduction in complications and enhanced patient satisfaction underscore the need for continuous implementation of these practices. This study provides valuable insights into optimizing surgical care and supports patient-centered approaches to further improve outcomes.