Surgical Cancellations Research Articles

PRINCIPAIS CAUSAS PARA O CANCELAMENTO DE CIRURGIAS ELETIVAS EM UMA INSTITUIÇÃO DE REDE PRIVADA.

The objective of this study was to identify the main causes for the cancellation of elective surgeries in a private institution in a municipality in the Northern region of Brazil, from August 2021 to August 2022. This is a cross-sectional, retrospective, quantitative study carried out in a private health institution, located in the municipality of Belém, capital of the State of Pará, in the Northern region of Brazil. Considering a universe of 110 physical medical records according to the period established from August 2021 to August 2022, a sampling error margin of no more than 5% and a confidence level of 95% were used. Therefore, the sample of this study is composed of 86 medical records of patients who had their elective surgical procedure canceled. The following were excluded: medical records of urgent and emergency surgeries; medical records with inadequately filled out or incomplete information; duplicate medical records. The demographic profile of the patients analyzed, the majority are female (61.63%). The age group 60 to 69 years had the highest prevalence, with a total of 25.58% of surgical cancellations. The majority of patients were brown, with 76.74% of the patients analyzed. (53.49%) patients denied any type of comorbidity, either concomitantly or in isolation. Regarding the surgical specialties with the highest cancellations, orthopedics (52.33%) and otorhinolaryngology (24.42%) were found. Among the main causes of surgical cancellation with the highest rate is related to the unfavorable clinical conditions of the patients (30.23%). Regarding organizational issues, surgeries canceled at the request of the surgeon stand out, with 26.74%.

Common causes of surgical cancellation in pediatric patients

Common causes of surgical cancellation in pediatric patients

Efficacy of a full management model in daytime surgery for gastrointestinal polyps based on WeChat: A study protocol for randomized controlled trials.

The objective of this study is to improve the efficiency of daytime surgery for gastrointestinal polyp and ensure the safety of patients. We tried an information management method based on WeChat platform in patients undergoing daytime gastrointestinal polypectomy and to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of a full management model. Five hundred and ninety-three patients were randomly divided into two groups: the control group was treated with traditional management methods and the experimental group was treated with the whole-process management mode based on the WeChat platform. The WeChat platform-based full management model included establishing a day surgery management WeChat group, developing multidisciplinary, full-management protocols and processes for day surgery, establishing an information-based surgical scheduling system and adopting diverse forms of day surgery education and continuity of care. This feature included illustrated brochures, vivid verbal presentations, WeChat public numbers and Internet management platforms. The treatment time, hospitalization cost and patient satisfaction of the two groups were counted. In the experimental group, 408 patients were enrolled. The preoperative waiting time and patients' length of stay were 3 days and 1 day, respectively. The medical and nursing intake time was 7 min. The procedure cancellation rate and postoperative complications rate was 0.07% and 0.02%. In the control group, 185 patients were enrolled in the study, The preoperative waiting time and patients' length of stay was 7 days and 3 days. The medical and nursing intake time was 28 min. The procedure cancellation rate and postoperative complications rate were 0.13% and 0.05%, respectively. The hospitalization costs were reduced by an average of $140/person and the satisfaction scores were higher than the control group. In summary, the preoperative waiting time, medical reception time, surgical cancellation rate, length of hospital stay and hospitalization cost in the observation group were less than those in the control group (p < 0.05). Patient satisfaction scores were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). Through the full management model based on WeChat, the preoperative waiting time, medical reception time, surgical cancellation rate, length of hospital stay and hospitalization cost in the experimental group were less than those in the control group. Patient satisfaction scores were significantly higher than those in the control group and the difference was statistically significant.

Surgical Cancellations and Postponements by Surgeon and Patient Sex: A Retrospective Cohort Study in Alberta, Canada.

The objective of this work was to estimate the association between surgeon sex with surgical postponements or cancellations. Female surgeons receive lower hourly, per patient, and total compensation than their male colleagues. Bias in the decision to postpone or cancel surgical cases may contribute to compensation inequality, since this results in unpaid surgeon time. This retrospective cohort study used administrative health data to identify surgeries performed at four hospitals in Calgary, Alberta, Canada that were cancelled or postponed due to surgeon/operating room overbooking or to accommodate an emergency case between April 1, 2015, and March 31, 2020. Surgeries performed in dedicated operating or procedure rooms (e.g., bronchoscopy, cardiac surgery, etc.) were excluded. The exposure of interest was surgeon sex, identified by matching their name to the provincial regulatory body record of self-identified sex, which allowed for selection between female and male only during the time of this study. There were 214,832 eligible surgical cases, of which 1,481 and 2,473 were postponed or cancelled due to overbooking and to accommodate an emergency, respectively. After adjusting for surgical specialty, whether the procedure was a day case, and for patient sex, female surgeons were more likely to be cancelled or postponed to accommodate an emergency case compared to male surgeons (odds ratio [OR] 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.38). There may be sex-bias in the decision about which surgical cases to postpone or cancel to accommodate emergency surgeries in our setting. This bias may contribute to compensation inequality in a fee-for-service setting.

Association of Neighborhood Opportunity, Race, and Ethnicity with Pediatric Day-of-surgery Cancellations: A Cohort Study.

Day-of-surgery cancellations impede healthcare access and contribute to inequities in pediatric healthcare. Socially disadvantaged families have many risk factors for surgical cancellation, including low health literacy, transportation barriers, and childcare constraints. These social determinants of health are captured by the Child Opportunity Index 2.0, a national quantification of neighborhood-level characteristics that contribute to a child's vulnerability to adversity. This study examined the association of neighborhood opportunity with pediatric day-of-surgery cancellations. A retrospective cohort study of children younger than 18 yr of age scheduled for ambulatory surgery at a tertiary pediatric hospital between 2017 and 2022 was conducted. Primary addresses were geocoded to determine Child Opportunity Index 2.0 neighborhood opportunity. Log-binomial regression was used to estimate the relative risk of day-of-surgery cancellation comparing different levels of neighborhood opportunity. This study also estimated the relative risk of cancellations associated with race and ethnicity, by neighborhood opportunity. Overall, the incidence of day-of-surgery cancellation was 3.8%. The incidence of cancellation was lowest in children residing in very-high-opportunity neighborhoods and highest in children residing in very-low-opportunity neighborhoods (2.4% vs. 5.7%, P < 0.001). The adjusted relative risk of day-of-surgery cancellation in very-low-opportunity neighborhoods compared to very-high-opportunity neighborhoods was 2.24 (95% CI, 2.05 to 2.44; P < 0.001). The results showed statistical evidence of an interaction of Children's Opportunity Index with race and ethnicity. In very-low-opportunity neighborhoods, Black children had 1.48 times greater risk of day-of-surgery cancellation than White children (95% CI, 1.35 to 1.63; P < 0.001). Likewise, in very-high-opportunity neighborhoods, Black children had 2.17 times greater risk of cancellation (95% CI, 1.75 to 2.69; P < 0.001). This study found a strong relationship between pediatric day-of-surgery cancellation and neighborhood opportunity. Black children at every level of opportunity had the highest risk of cancellation, suggesting that there are additional factors that render them more vulnerable to neighborhood disadvantage.

Machine Learning-Based Approach to Predict Last-Minute Cancellation of Pediatric Day Surgeries.

The last-minute cancellation of surgeries profoundly affects patients and their families. This research aimed to forecast these cancellations using EMR data and meteorological conditions at the time of the appointment, using a machine learning approach. We retrospectively gathered medical data from 13 440 pediatric patients slated for surgery from 2018 to 2021. Following data preprocessing, we utilized random forests, logistic regression, linear support vector machines, gradient boosting trees, and extreme gradient boosting trees to predict these abrupt cancellations. The efficacy of these models was assessed through performance metrics. The analysis revealed that key factors influencing last-minute cancellations included the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, average wind speed, average rainfall, preanesthetic assessments, and patient age. The extreme gradient boosting algorithm outperformed other models in predicting cancellations, boasting an area under the curve value of 0.923 and an accuracy of 0.841. This algorithm yielded superior sensitivity (0.840), precision (0.837), and F1 score (0.838) relative to the other models. These insights underscore the potential of machine learning, informed by EMRs and meteorological data, in forecasting last-minute surgical cancellations. The extreme gradient boosting algorithm holds promise for clinical deployment to curtail healthcare expenses and avert adverse patient-family experiences.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Reconstructive Surgery and Training Programs in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, which already faces challenges due to a lack of surgeons and facilities, the COVID-19 pandemic could significantly disrupt surgical activities and training programs. "2nd Chance", a non-governmental organization providing training program to enhance local reconstructive surgery capacity in this region since 2015, could play a crucial role in addressing these issues. We aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 on the activity of sub-Saharan African reconstructive surgeons collaborating with "2nd Chance" organization and evaluate its effect on the organization's training programs. In the course of 2022, an online cross-sectional survey was conducted among reconstructive surgeons working in sub-Saharan African countries and collaborating with "2nd Chance". The survey consisted of 57 questions covering demographics, impacts of COVID-19 on personal life, clinical and training activities. Of 469 surgeons eligible for the study, 240 were included and 51 responded. The impact of COVID-19 was felt personally in terms of health and stress. Clinical activities were severely affected, with some reporting higher mortality due to surgical cancellations and delays. Regarding training, there was a shift from practical to theoretical learning, though overall impact was moderate. One-third of participants were able to attend "2nd Chance" workshops. Among the 17 planned workshops, 9 were successfully conducted, and 4 of them exclusively featured African trainers. The COVID-19 pandemic had substantial consequences on reconstructive surgery in sub-Saharan Africa, impacting more clinical practices than training programs. Collaboration between African and European trainers proved essential during the pandemic. In future pandemics, South-South collaborations should be prioritized.

An audit on surgery cancellation in a teaching hospital.

Operative procedure cancellations are a dilemma for the healthcare system as well as for the patients. It causes increased workload and cost to our system. For patients, it has major financial, psychological as well as medical consequences. We aim to self-identify the causes of cancellations for efficient operation room management. We performed a retrospective chart review in a tertiary academic medical center for the last 66 months of operative records. Subsequently, we performed thematic coding to categorize causes into distinct categories. Our records showed 5153 cancellations which represent (7.3%) of the total booked procedures. Of these cancellations 91% were ordered before the day of surgery, compared to 9% for same-day cancellations. Cancellations were 58% female patients and 40% male patients. The number one reason for cancellations for both same-day and prior cancellations is the unavailability of the surgical consultant. Surgical procedure cancellations profile is unique among our settings and has changed over time. Over the last 5 years, the number one reason is unavailability of the surgical consultant. Efforts should be made to identify and correct the underlying reasons to improve patient outcomes in our evolving healthcare system.

TAXAS E CAUSAS DE CANCELAMENTO CIRÚRGICO AMBULATORIAL: ESTUDO TRANSVERSAL

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the rate and causes of cancellations in an outpatient surgery unit at a university polyclinic that is part of the Unified Health System and located in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Method: a cross-sectional study carried out in the outpatient surgical center of a university polyclinic in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The data for the period August 2021 to July 2022 was extracted from the institution's database using a form containing the patients' sociodemographic and clinical variables, month, surgical specialty, causes and period of cancellation. The Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test was used for the age group variable, and Pearson's chi-square test was used for the month and specialty variables, with a significance level of 5%. Results: of the 2,147 outpatient surgeries scheduled, 334 were canceled, with an annual surgical cancellation rate of 15.55%. There was a statistically significant difference in cancellations in December (p= 0.010), in the vascular surgery specialty (p= 0.001) and in older adults (p= 0.007). A total of ten causes of cancellation were found, the most frequent being patient absence (n=117; 35.03%), unfavorable clinical conditions (n=92; 27.54%) and non-compliance with preoperative preparation (n=30; 8.98%). Conclusion: the surgical cancellation rate was high, mainly due to the patient's absence and clinical conditions on the day of surgery. It is hoped that the data will help to subsidize and raise awareness of the active participation of all professionals involved in outpatient surgery, in order to avoid cancellations.

RATES AND CAUSES OF OUTPATIENT SURGICAL CANCELLATIONS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

RESUMO Objetivo: analisar a taxa e as causas de cancelamento em unidade de cirurgia ambulatorial em uma policlínica universitária integrante do Sistema Único de Saúde e situada no município do Rio de Janeiro. Método: estudo transversal, desenvolvido em centro cirúrgico ambulatorial de uma policlínica universitária da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Dados do período de agosto de 2021 a julho de 2022 foram extraídos do banco de dados da instituição via formulário contendo variáveis sociodemográficas e clínica dos pacientes, mês, especialidade cirúrgica, causas e período do cancelamento. Para variável faixa etária utilizou-se o teste de Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney, e para variáveis mês e especialidade, o teste qui-quadrado de Pearson, adotado nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: dentre as 2.147 cirurgias ambulatoriais agendadas, 334 foram canceladas, com taxa de cancelamento cirúrgico anual de 15,55%. Houve diferença estatística significativa nos cancelamentos ocorridos no mês de dezembro (p= 0,010), na especialidade cirúrgica vascular (p= 0,001) e em pacientes idosos (p= 0,007). Foram encontradas dez causas de cancelamento, sendo as mais frequentes relacionadas à falta do paciente (n=117; 35,03%), às condições clínicas desfavoráveis (n=92; 27,54%) e à inconformidade no preparo pré-operatório (n=30; 8,98%). Conclusão: a taxa de cancelamento cirúrgico foi elevada, sobretudo pela falta e pelas condições clínicas do paciente no dia da cirurgia. Espera-se que os dados possam contribuir para subsidiar e sensibilizar a participação ativa de todos os profissionais envolvidos em cirurgia ambulatorial, de modo a evitar cancelamento.

Trends of Ophthalmic Surgery Cancellations at a County Hospital Before and During COVID-19: A 10-Year Retrospective Study

ABSTRACT Purpose Despite several publications on ophthalmic surgical cancellations discussing preventative causes in academic institutions, there remains a paucity of similar studies for safety-net hospitals. This study analyzed cancellation rates at a county hospital over a 10-year period. Methods This retrospective, open cohort study investigated a total of 11,350 surgeries scheduled at a tertiary-level county hospital between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2021. Surgical cancellation reasons were collected from chart review and categorized into eight groups to allow for analyses. Cancellation rates were then calculated per year and per subspecialty. The primary statistical analyses were paired, 2-tailed t test and χ2 test. Results The most common reason for cancellation overall was institution-related (1065 surgeries), which was also the most common reason per year from 2012 to 2019 (range: 37.4% − 60.6%). In 2020, during COVID-19 stay-at-home mandates, the most common reason became COVID-related rescheduling, and in 2021, it was patient-driven. The cancellation rate in 2020 was significantly higher than 2019 (+9.27%,95% CI:4.96%-13.6%,p = .05), and significantly lower from 2021 to 2020 (−22.8%,95% CI:-26.8%-(-)18.7%,p = .001). Pediatric surgery had the highest cancellation rate overall (36.4%), but oculoplastics had the highest cancellation rate in 2020 (48.9%). Conclusion The most common reason for cancellation over the 10-year period was institution-related, in contrast to other publications based in academic centers. The study also had a higher cancellation rate than previously reported, again suggesting the difference between county and academic centers. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on cancellations, even after the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders were eased.

Reducing Operating Room (OR) Cancellations: Results from a Quality Improvement Study from a Tertiary Care Children's Cancer Center

Introduction: Operating Room (OR) is a critical resource that may be used inefficiently in pediatric hematology oncology services and surgical cancellations is a major cause of OR underutilization with major implications on cost-savings, patient satisfaction, quality-of-care and hospital metrics. The purpose of this performance improvement (PI) study was to reduce the surgical cancellation rate by 10% (Pre-PI cancellation rate,22%) at pediatric hematology oncology services at a large tertiary care children's cancer center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycle was adapted as project methodology on this performance improvement study. Preoperative checklist was created using REDCap electronic data capture tool hosted at our institution, also served as project database. Daily OR -Huddle was conducted to identify key points of intervention that included customized medical plans involving provision of pre-anesthesia evaluation clinic, sub-specialized inpatient and outpatient consultations, blood product support, while intervention required for improved communication included patient and nursing education. Patients were re-evaluated and preoperative checklist rechecked for provision of 24-hour notice of cancellation to the OR-scheduling team. All elective procedures scheduled between November 2021 and December 2022 were included, cancelled procedures were examined to identify potential reasons. Results: During the PI period, a total of 1063 elective surgical procedures were scheduled, majority 77% (816) were line-related, followed by bone marrow harvest in stem cell transplant donors, 11% (118) ; dental extraction and restoration, 6% (63) ; bone marrow aspiration or biopsy,4% (47) and other (lumbar puncture, Intrathecal chemotherapy etc.) procedures ,2% (19). Majority 58% (621), of the procedures scheduled for malignant diagnoses; followed by stem cell harvests or patients requiring line-insertion for stem cell infusion in 29% (308) and non-malignant diagnoses in 13% (134). Post-intervention, surgical cancellation observed in 54 cases, with majority 93% (50) being line-related cancellation. When compared to the pre-intervention period (12 months prior to PI-project initiation) rate of surgical cancellation dropped from 22% to 5% resulting in 17% improvement. Root cause analysis reports a significant decrease in cancellation related to inappropriate preoperative workup, 40%; followed by co-morbid conditions related to patients disease requiring sub-specialized consultation in 29% ; insufficient routine blood tests in 19% and inappropriate patient education in 8%. The preoperative checklist was approved and adapted as standard of care - clinical pathway to be integrated with the institutional Electronic medical records. Conclusion: In our experience, the observed high rate of elective OR cancellations were associated with ineffective preoperative workflow, team communication, patient coordination and education. Post-intervention measures enabled a visual system to harmonize patients' preoperative progress and the multi-disciplinary, daily OR-Huddle allowed lean-decision minimizing “last minute” cancellations. These interventions are easy to replicate against available resources by other tertiary care centers to improve inefficient OR utilization. Cost-effectiveness analysis resulting from the improvement is warranted.

Pediatric influenza vaccination in the perioperative setting: A quality improvement project.

Unmet need for seasonal influenza vaccination administration to pediatric patients exists at national and local levels. Vaccination during the perioperative period remains controversial, though opportunity exists to meet vaccination need through perioperative programs. The initial SMART Aim of this quality improvement initiative was to establish and increase seasonal influenza vaccination rate in eligible patients during in person preoperative clinic visits in a pediatric perioperative surgical home (PSH) to 10%. Informed by each prior season's experience, we increased our SMART Aim target for vaccinations in seasons two and three to 15 and 18%, respectively. Following the Model for Improvement methodology, the PSH team developed and implemented a perioperative pediatric influenza vaccination program. Across three influenza seasons, key interventions included updates to organizational perioperative vaccination policy, obtaining material influenza vaccination supplies, development of EHR tools, PSH staff education, and communication with patient-families. Rate of eligible patients receiving influenza vaccination at their PSH clinic appointment was tracked over time. Influenza vaccination rates were reported monthly during Season 1, then weekly during seasons two and three. The balancing measure was same day surgery case cancellations related to influenza vaccination given at PSH clinic appointment. Statistical analysis methods utilized include Shewart's control chart and statistical process control (SPC) standards. Special cause variation was determined by eight or more consecutive data points above or below the centerline. The influenza vaccination rates in each of the three influenza seasons exceeded vaccination rate goals of 10, 15, and 18%, respectively. A total of 695 vaccines have been administered since program inception. No same day surgical case cancellations were observed as balancing measure. Over three consecutive influenza vaccination seasons, we safely established and met vaccination rate goals of 10, 15, and 18% to eligible patients during preoperative clinic visits within a pediatric PSH system. Through iterative PDSA cycles, we continue to identify opportunities for future improvement. This suggests that the perioperative period presents opportunity for seasonal influenza vaccination with potential program expansion to include routine vaccines of childhood.

Gynaecologic oncology surgical cancellations in Zambia.

Cancellations of elective surgery in low-and middle-income countries (LMIC) are common and a major hindrance for patients who are in need of surgical therapeutic modalities. This is especially important in the context of scaling up needed surgical interventions for gynaecological cancer care. There is a knowledge gap in the literature related to cancellation of gynaecologic oncology surgeries in LMIC, where there is enormous need for this specific cancer surgical capacity. We report in an observational descriptive fashion, our experience at the UTH/CDH in Lusaka, Zambia, on the causes of surgical cancellations in gynaecologic oncology. From January 1, 2021 through June 31, 2023, we retrospectively evaluated the surgical registry for gynaecologic oncology at the UTH/CDH in Lusaka, Zambia to assess the number and causes of surgical cancellations. There were a total of 66 (16.96%) surgical cancellations out of 389 scheduled gynaecologic oncology cases. Lack of available blood and/or low haemoglobin was the most frequent cause of surgical cancellations, 27 cases (40.90%). We highlight in our series that the lack of blood, leading to surgical cancellations was the most frequent impediment related to performing scheduled gynaecologic oncology surgical procedures. As gynaecologic oncology services scale up in LMIC, given the radical nature of surgery and its association with blood loss, it is incumbent on the entire clinical ecosystem to address this issue and to develop mitigating strategies, specific to their respective resource setting.

Incidence and root causes of surgery cancellations at an academic medical center in Iran: a retrospective cohort study on 29,978 elective surgical cases

IntroductionCanceling scheduled surgeries on the day of surgery places a heavy burden on healthcare providers and has psychological, social, and financial consequences on patients and their families. This study aimed to investigate the main reasons for cancellations of elective procedures and provide appropriate recommendations to reduce the rate of such avoidable cancellations.MethodsData were collected retrospectively from all consecutive elective cases scheduled for various elective surgeries from January 1, 2020 to March 31, 2022 at Namazi Teaching Hospital, a major referral center in southern Iran with a capacity of 938 beds. Daily data were collected on the number of planned electives, cancellations, and reasons for cancellations. Surgical cancellation reasons were categorized as patient-related, surgeon-related, hospital/system-related, and anesthesia-related. Data were expressed as frequency (percentage) and analyzed with SPSS version 19 software.ResultsThe cancellation rate on surgery day for elective procedures in all fields was 6.3%. The highest cancellation rate was related to minor surgeries (19%), followed by urology (8%), pediatrics (7%), and plastic surgery (7%). The most common reasons for cancellation were patients not suitable for the procedure (37%), followed by patients who did not follow instructions (10%), lack of time (10.5%), and equipment/supplies problems (10%), and refusal to consent (6%).ConclusionsAccording to this study, patients’ unsuitability for surgery, non-compliance with instructions, lack of time, and problems with equipment/supplies are the main reasons for canceling surgery. Proper preoperative assessment and preparation of patients and improved communication between medical teams and patients reduce the cancellation of booked surgeries.

FTP2.4 Colorectal Resections at an Elective Hub; A service evaluation

Abstract Aim Rising acute hospital bed pressures that have persisted post-pandemic have led to increased surgical cancellations and growing waiting lists. Ashford and St Peters Hospital Trust set up a unique elective surgical hub at Ashford Hospital to ensure the continued provision of surgical services, unaffected by the capacity pressures of an acute hospital site. The introduction of a level 1.5 Enhanced Care Unit (ECU) has enabled many colorectal resections to be performed at the elective hub. We aim to evaluate elective colorectal resections at this hub since the introduction of ECU. Methods Evaluated all elective colorectal resections in the 12 month period since the introduction of ECU (1st April 2021 - 31st March 2022). Procedure, surgical approach, histology, length of stay, post-operative complications and inter-hospital transfers were recorded for each case. Statistical analysis was performed on the data collected. Results In 12 months,169 and 36 colorectal resections took place at the acute site versus the elective respectively. At the elective hub, 50% of patients were male, the median age was 62.5 yrs, 89% were ASA 2. Right hemicolectomy was the most common procedure (50%) followed by high anterior resection (36%). The open conversion rate was 8%. Three patients (8%) required transfer to St Peter’s, 2 of which had an anastomotic leak. Conclusions An elective hub provides a safe location for colorectal resections. Appropriate case selection involving consultant surgeons and anaesthetists ensures low transfer rates. Expanding this service will relieve bed pressures at St Peters and reduce waiting lists.

A Feasibility Study on a Telemedicine Hybrid Protocol for Preoperative Anesthetic Assessment.

Background Over the past decade, telemedicine has experienced significant growth due to technological advancement, and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic further accelerated its adoption. However, the field of anesthesiology has been slow in integrating and embracing telemedicine compared to other medical specialties. Methods We conducted an observational pilot feasibility study at a tertiary hospital in Singapore to assess the viability of a telemedicine hybrid protocol for preoperative anesthetic assessment. The study included patients aged 21 to 65 years, classified as American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) physical status class 1 or 2, with a body mass index (BMI) below 35 kg/m2, who were capable of managing video conferencing. The patients selected were scheduled for low-risk surgeries. The primary objective was to evaluate the medical and technical feasibility of our telemedicine hybrid protocol, while the secondary objectives included assessing patient satisfaction and obtaining feedback from relevant stakeholders. Results From November 2021 to April 2022, a total of 116 patients were recruited, with 96 patients completing the study. No technical difficulties, surgical case cancellations, or incidents of unanticipated difficult airways were reported. The majority of survey respondents (88%) expressed satisfaction with the video consultation and indicated a preference for it over physical consultations for future preoperative anesthesia evaluations. Conclusion Based on our findings, a telemedicine hybrid protocol for preoperative anesthetic assessment demonstrated both technical and medical feasibility while yielding high patient satisfaction. Future research could focus on expanding the protocol to encompass more complex surgeries and include patients with higher ASA status.

The Golden Patient Initiative: A Systematic Review.

Operating theatres and surgical resource consumption comprise a significant proportion ofhealthcare costs. Inefficiencies in theatre lists remain an important focus for cost management, along with reducing patient morbidity and mortality. With the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the number of patients on theatre waiting lists has surged. Hence, there is a pressing need to utilise the already limited theatre time and fraught resources with innovative methods. In this systematic review, we discuss the Golden Patient Initiative (GPI), in which the first patient on the operating list is pre-assessed the day prior to surgery, and we aim to assess its impact and overall efficacy. A literature search using the following four databases was conducted to identify and select all clinical research concerning the GPI: Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE),Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), and the Cochrane library. Two independent authors screened articles against the eligibility criteria, using a process adapted from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Data extracted included outcomes measured, follow-up period, and study design. The results showed significant heterogeneity, and hence a narrative review was conducted; 13 of the 73 eligible articles were included for analysis. Outcomes included delay in theatre start time, number of surgical case cancellations, and changes to total case numbers. Across the studies, a 19-30-minute improvement in theatre start time was reported (p<0.05), as well as a statistically significant decrease in case cancellations. Our analysis provides encouraging conclusions with regard to greater theatre efficiency following the application of GPI, a low-cost solution that can easily be implemented to help improve patient safety and lead to cost savings. However, at present, it is largely implemented amonglocal trusts, and hence larger multi-centre studies are required to gather conclusive evidence about the efficacy of the initiative.

Efficacy of Telehealth in Preoperative Pediatric Surgery Consultations

IntroductionThe Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic created a sudden need to transition outpatient pediatric surgical care to a telehealth platform, allotting little time to study the efficacy of these changes. In particular, the accuracy of telehealth preoperative assessment remains unclear. Therefore, we sought to study the prevalence of errors in diagnosis and procedure cancellations between preoperative in-person evaluations and telehealth evaluations. MethodsWe conducted a single institution, retrospective chart review of perioperative medical records at a tertiary children's hospital over a 2-year period. Data included patient demographics (age, sex, county, primary language, and insurance), preoperative diagnosis, postoperative diagnosis, and surgical cancellation rates. Data were analyzed using Fisher's exact and chi-square tests. Alpha was set at 0.05. ResultsA total of 523 patients were analyzed, with 445 in-person visits and 78 telehealth visits. There were no demographic differences between the in-person and telehealth cohorts. The frequency of changes from the preoperative to the postoperative diagnosis was not significantly different between in-person preoperative visits and telehealth preoperative visits (0.99% versus 1.41%, P = 0.557). The frequency of case cancellations between the two consultation modalities was not significantly different (9.44% versus 8.97%, P = 0.899). ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that preoperative pediatric surgical consultations held via telehealth were neither associated with a decrease in the accuracy of preoperative diagnosis, nor an increased rate of surgery cancellations, compared to those held in-person. Further study is needed to better determine the advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of telehealth in the delivery of pediatric surgical care.

Prevalence and Causes of Elective Surgical Cancellations: Findings from a Rural Tertiary Hospital in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Background: Cancellations of elective surgeries adversely affect the patient, hospital staff, facility, and health system. Cancellations potentially result in hospital financial losses, theatre inefficiency, and substandard patient care. A common benchmark for the cancellation rate of elective surgeries is less than five percent, and most operating rooms fall short of this standard. There is a paucity of data on the rates and causes of elective surgical cancellations in rural, resource-limited settings. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of elective surgery cancellations, the causes for such cancellations, and the surgical disciplines most affected at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital (NMAH). Methodology: This was an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional review of operating theatre records from January 2019 to July 2019. The prevalence and main causes of elective case cancellations were determined. The causes were classified, and the most affected surgical departments and patient characteristics were identified. Results: The prevalence of elective surgical case cancellations was 14.4% in our hospital, higher than the international benchmark of 5%. Patient-, facility-, and surgical-related factors were the leading causes of cancellations, and avoidable cancellations were mostly surgical- and anaesthetic-related. Ophthalmology was the most affected, followed by gynaecology and general surgery, with plastic surgery being the least affected. The most common patient-related factors were nonattendance and uncontrolled medical conditions, while overbooking was the most common surgical reason. Abnormal investigatory results and unfit status were the most common anaesthetic reasons. Facility-related issues included the lack of theatre time, equipment scarcity or malfunction, and staff unavailability. Most cancellations were unavoidable, but with careful planning, could be avoided. Conclusion and recommendations: This study identified challenges with theatre efficiency in a rural, resource-limited setting that call for the cooperation of multidisciplinary teams of surgeons, anaesthetists, nursing staff, and health care policymakers.