Postoperative death in paediatric urology

In the combined experience of two paediatric urologists over a 25 year period only 4 fatalities relating directly to the surgical procedure could be identified. Two other deaths are presented and retrospectively most of the fatalities could have been avoided by present day management but not at the time they occured. Operative mortality in relation to paediatric urology is discussed fully and it is suggested that death related to the immediate surgery should be fully avoidable in relation to paediatric urology. Death from renal failure is a different problem and is unrelated to this paper.