Cancellations in ambulatory day surgery: Ten years observational study

Jimenez,A. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Artigas,C. ; Elia,M. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Casamayor,C. ; Gracia,J. A. ; Martinez,M.

Resumen: Background: Reasons for cancellation of booked procedures in ambulatory surgery need a detailed analysis in order to introduce corrective
measures to lessen them.
Methods: Cancellations occurring the day before operation without patient replacement and procedures cancelled on the day of operation in 10 500 patients scheduled to be operated on in a multidisciplinary ambulatory surgery unit were analysed. Data were obtained from the incident register sheets and the database of the unit.
Results: A total of 424 patients were cancelled (4%). Reasons for cancellation were: acute medical conditions in 23.3% of cases, personal decision of the patient to refuse programming in 22.2%, non-attendance in 2.1%, failure to follow pre-operative guidance in 23.3% and unavailability of resources in 29%. These causes were preventable or possibly preventable in 57.1% of cases, difficult to prevent in 29% and not preventable in 13.9%.
Conclusion: More than half the cases of cancellation could be prevented. A rapid response of surgical departments to substitute patients, campaigns to increase the awareness of the population about the cost of health services and the implementation of pre-operative assessment guidelines must be considered.

Idioma: Inglés

Año: 2006

Publicado en: Ambulatory surgery 12, 3 (2006), 119-123
ISSN: 0966-6532

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Cirugía (Dpto. Cirugía,Ginecol.Obstetr.)