DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sasjm.2026.v12i10.001

Pages: 1013-1019

Introduction: Medical error is a major current concern for healthcare professionals and health authorities. Objective: To study diagnostic errors in our general surgery department. Patients and Methods: We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study with a total duration of 12 months in the general surgery department. Results: The mean age of the patients was 43.02 ± 18.91 years, with a range of 15 to 80 years. There was a male predominance (58.7%), with a male-to-female ratio of 1.4. Laparotomy was planned in 93.3% of cases. The checklist was correctly completed in 43.3% of cases. General anesthesia was used and administered under medical supervision in 97.1% of cases. Patients were awakened in the operating room in 77.9% of cases. The identified situational factors were an incorrect checklist (56.7%), long shifts for staff (25%), and high patient volume (4.8%). Diagnostic errors accounted for 17.3% of adverse events. The main complication was wound suppuration (41%). Death occurred in 56.4% of patients who experienced a complication. The average length of stay was 6.1 days without complications versus 14.3 days with complications, ranging from 11 to 36 days. Conclusion: The checklist constitutes a security barrier, but its effectiveness remains limited by organizational constraints and its use.