The overall complication rates of endoscopic sinus surgeries are low; however, errors can lead to significant injury due to the proximity of the sinuses to the orbit and skull base and the resultant potential for blindness, cerebrospinal fluid leak, and catastrophic bleeding. Surgical checklists are endorsed by the World Health Organization and need to be incorporated into operating rooms as a measure to minimize avoidable errors. Standardized surgical checklists were developed with general and/or orthopedic procedures in mind, but in many instances, they fail to incorporate concerns specific to endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).
In response to the popular demand from the platform to address this clinical issue, the present checklist can serve as a template for physicians who perform ESS and wish to prevent avoidable adverse events. Step 1: Preparation [Surgeon(s) Only] Timing: Prior to…
