Why we are wasting time in the operating theatre?

Area of Science:

• Medical research
• Surgical efficiency
• Operating room management

Background:

• Elective surgical lists are crucial for patient care but often face delays.
• Inefficiencies in operating theatre workflow can lead to prolonged patient waiting times.
• Optimizing surgical scheduling is essential for maximizing resource utilization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the primary causes of delays during elective surgical procedures.
• To propose actionable solutions for improving operating theatre efficiency.
• To minimize downtime between surgical cases.

Main Methods:

• A prospective observational study was conducted in a large teaching hospital.
• Fifty-five women undergoing elective gynecological surgery under general anesthesia were monitored.
• Detailed time points of patient progression through the operating theatre were recorded.

Main Results:

• Patient transfer from the ward to the anesthetic room was the longest interval (median 20 min).
• Anaesthetists waited for patients in 43% of cases, with a median delay of 7 min.
• Surgeons experienced a median waiting time of 22.5 min between operations.

Conclusions:

• Patient transfer delays significantly impact operating theatre efficiency, causing substantial waiting times for anaesthetists and surgeons.
• Implementing strategies such as earlier patient arrival and dual anaesthetist availability can reduce delays.
• Adequate recovery area capacity is also vital for smooth patient flow and reduced surgical downtime.