[Effect of changing the rules on entering the operating room : turnover time and surgical site infection]

We performed an analysis comparing two different methods to enter the surgical unit to assess efficacy of turnover time and incidence of surgical site infection(SSI).

We evaluated the turnover time and incidence of SSI retrospectively. The methods to enter the operating room were as follows. In 2004, patients use a hatchway and staffs had to change cloths and shoes wearing masks and caps to enter the operating unit. In 2005, patients were transported directly to the operating room and staffs could enter without changing their shoes. Consecutive patients who received anesthesia by anesthesiologists from January 2004 to December 2004 and from January 2005 to December 2005 were studied. We examined the turnover time as time which subtracted the duration of anesthesia from the duration of operating room stay. We also examined the incidence of SSI who had entered intensive care unit after surgery.

Mean turnover time of patients was shortened about 3 minutes in all the cases. The incidence of SSI did not change after changing the method of entering the operating room.

The change of the rule for enterling the operating room was effective in reducing the burden of the staff.