Factors Influencing Delay in the Operating Room: Prospective Study

Abstract

Introduction: The intensity of the work and the diversity of the acts imposed, in the operating room, provided organization and complementarity of the different actors. The dysfunctions observed are the cause of delays, reports or additions to the operating program our study consisted in evaluating, within the our department of operating theaters, the deadlines of patients who were to be performed under general anesthesia in scheduled surgery, from their arrival in the operating room until the incision, and to identify the causes and possible consequences. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective observational study carried out at HMIMV, between March 1, 2018 and April 1, 2018, Results: The median waiting time in the reception room was 42 minutes, and 65% of patients waited between 25 and 62 minutes the main causes of delay in the operating room were at 38% of cases, the unavailability of the anesthesiologist. In more than 22% of cases the non-availability of State Certified Nurse Anesthesiologist in 19% of cases the unavailability of the surgeon. We then find almost 5% of expectations due to equipment defective or missing. Some causes were not specified for nearly 3% and about 3% of cases the non-availability of the State-certified operating room nurse. It is in the sectors of orthopedics and digestive endoscopy that predominates expectation of surgeons and to a lesser extent that of anesthesiologist-resuscitator. However the unavailability of the anesthesiologist-resuscitator was predominant in visceral surgery and in Gynecology. Conclusion: Optimizing an operating theater means making it possible to operate on more patients, in different better safety conditions and with a level of quality and comfort for the patient satisfied.