Causes of Last Minute Cancellation of Operative Procedures at King Abdulaziz University Hospital

Abstract

Cancellations of surgical procedures are frequent occurrences at operating rooms. These cancellations result in the wasting of resources and prolonging patients' hospital stay. Last minute cancellations have more negative impacts since they are usually uncorrectable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reasons for last minute cancellations of procedures at the University Hospital. Patients scheduled for surgeries over a one year period were recruited. Patients cancelled in the pre-operative holding area were enrolled. For each case, a form which contains the patients demographic data and relevant information was completed. The incidence of ancellations were higher in general surgery patients (n = 55, 27.1%), compared to patients undergoing pain treatment procedures (n = 1, 0.5%). Improper pre-operative preparation is the major reason for cancellations, which can be minimized by good communication between the preoperative team. The establishment of a pre-anesthetic clinic for the pre-operative evaluation of the patients is suggested as a main solution for these issues.