Laryngoscopy findings in outpatient notes: the accuracy of the recording of the side of the lesion.

Abstract

An analysis of 100 patient notes was performed in the South-west Thames Region to determine the accuracy of recording the side of the abnormality in outpatient clinic notes when compared to the findings at direct laryngoscopy. Direct laryngoscopy was felt to be the most accurate method of viewing the larynx. The results were analysed to determine if the specific method of outpatient laryngoscopy or grade of examiner influenced the error rates. Inconsistencies occurred in 29% of the clinic notes when a diagram of the larynx was present. Specialist Registrars made 59% of the errors. Flexible nasendoscopy accounts for more errors than indirect laryngoscopy.