Background: Errors can occur during surgery, even with an experienced surgeon and under ideal circumstances. Unfortunately, there is yet to be a consensus on what constitutes a surgical error.

Aim and Objectives: To determine how surgical error is understood, defined, reported, and disclosed among Nigerian surgeons.

Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among surgeons that attended the International College of Surgeons’ Conference which held in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, Nigeria in 2015. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, error perception, frequency, reporting, reasons for non-disclosure, and benefits of disclosure was obtained using a self-administered questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS 26.0. Results are presented in tables and figures.

Results: Almost all 96 (95.0%) the respondents were males, and 46 (45.5%) were general surgeons. Thirty-two (42.11%) were in full-time public service. Wrong judgement 94 (93.1%) was the predominant reason for surgical errors. Most 48 (63.16%) surgeons reported that there was no institutional protocol on error where they practice. Majority 66 (86.84%) admitted to committing a non-fatal error, while 42 (55.26%) had made fatal errors. More than half 43 (65.15%) of those that committed non-fatal errors, disclosed this error, while 16 (38.10%) disclosed fatal errors. More than half 52 (68.42%) were in support of error disclosure, 43 (56.58%) agreed that error disclosure was beneficial, and almost all (92%) agreed that reporting errors can improve patients’ safety.

Conclusion: Surgical errors are prevalent, and usually preventable. Personal and institutional efforts at reducing errors must begin with understanding what constitutes an error in surgery.

Keywords: Surgical errors, Perception, Reporting, Disclosure, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

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Dr. Justina Omoikhefe Alegbeleye

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Nigeria