Objectives: To determine the mortality rate of ophthalmic ward patients and the causes of death.
Methods: A retrospective study of all ophthalmic patients admitted into the ophthalmic wards of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City between May 1989 and April 2005 was conducted. The case records of all ophthalmic deaths were analysed. The age, sex, diagnosis and cause of death were recorded.
Results: A total of 1854 patients were admitted into the ophthalmic ward comprising 1,057 males (57%) and 797 females (43%) giving a male-to-female ratio of 1.3:1. There were 7 deaths in the ophthalmic wards during the period giving a mortality rate of 3.8/100 admission. Three patients (42.8%) were being managed for orbital cellulitis, 2 patients (28.6%) had malignant tumours and the remaining 2 patients (28.6%) had cataract extraction.
Conclusion: The mortality rate in the ophthalmic ward was low. Deaths could be prevented by early presentation, adequate preoperative screening, good nursing care, high index of suspicion by clinicians and provision of affordable drugs for life-threatening conditions.