(110) Errors Within Otolaryngology: A Scoping Review

Introduction: Human error in healthcare can range from minor complications to death, with the surgical field having heightened exposure to these risks due to the required technical precision and interdisciplinary coordination. Otolaryngology presents unique challenges: high variability in procedures, challenging anatomy, and diverse interventions. Approximately 200,000 deaths occur from medical errors nationwide, this scoping review aims to answer two questions: What are the most frequent medical and surgical errors reported in otolaryngology?; and what clinical or systemic factors contribute to these occurrences?

Methods: Databases such as PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were utilized. Search terms included “surgical errors,” “clinical errors,” “otolaryngology setting,” “medical errors,” and “ENT.” Data collection was performed manually by four reviewers, focusing on variables such as error type, severity, and patient outcomes.

Results: Findings suggest ENT errors most commonly involve intraoperative technical mistakes, perioperative decision-making, and breakdowns in communication processes. Prior national survey data of AAO-HNS members identified technical errors as the most frequent category (~19%), followed by medical management and diagnostic testing. Estimates extrapolated from these reports suggest otolaryngology errors may contribute to over 2,600 major morbidities and more than 165 deaths annually in the United States.

Conclusions: These results highlight that ENT-specific error patterns differ from other surgical specialties and reflect both procedural complexity and interdisciplinary care demands. Targeted prevention strategies should prioritize operative technique, surgical planning, postoperative monitoring, and team communication to reduce avoidable harm and strengthen patient safety systems.