Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

    Background & Aim: Mortality statistics can be used in assessing course of diseases at the level of a hospital, a city or a country in order to evaluate the quality of health care systems. The aim of this study is to define the prevalence and common causes of otolaryngology-related deaths in otolaryngology ward of

Hazrat

Rasoul-Akram

Hospital during an 11-year period.

 Patients and Method: In this retrospective study, all patients who had been hospitalized in ENT Ward and died thereafter were included. The individual medical records were then reviewed and information such as demographic data (age and sex), primary complaint, root and duration of hospitalization, diagnosis, treatment modalities, and place of death was recorded ethically and mentioned as descriptive statistics.

 Results:Among a total of 19266 admitted patients, 25 fatalities were recorded, showing an average of 1. 29 per 1000 admissions. Female to male ratio was 1. 27:1. The highest and the lowest mortality rates belonged to the age groups of over 50 and under 30. Malignancy was the first cause of death (28%) followed by severe infection or abscess of head and neck (24%).

 Conclusion: Compared to hospitals in other countries,the prevalence of mortality due to ENT causes in this teaching hospital showed a better health care condition in this ward. The most common causes of death in ENT Ward were malignant neoplasms and head & neck infections respectively.