Cancellations in elective ENT surgery

Abstract

Cancellations of elective surgeries are a common reason for wastage of theatre time. This study was conducted to evaluate the reasons for cancellation of elective ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgery in a district general hospital in Wales. To access local trends and reasons for cancelled ENT surgery, and to compare the local findings with the national figures, assessing reasons for any discrepancy. This study was done in two cycles. The first cycle was retrospective and included all the elective ENT surgeries performed between 1 April and 30 September 2010. The recommendations from the first cycle were then in cooperated and a second cycle of prospective study was carried out and included all the elective ENT surgeries performed between 1 March and 30 August 2011. A total of 596 elective ENT procedures were scheduled, of which 53 recorded cancellations, equating to a cancellation rate of 8.9% in the first cycle. A total of 572 elective ENT procedures were scheduled of which 26 recorded cancellations, equating to a cancellation rate of 4.5%. The cancellation rate decreased by 4.4% from the first to the second cycle. Centralisation of theatre list would potentially reduce overall cancellation rates and waiting times.