Delays in emergency oral and maxillofacial operations: 5 years later

Delays in emergency oral and maxillofacial operations lead to prolonged discomfort for patients and increase the burden on acute hospital services. A published prospective study in our unit in 2003-2004 identified appreciable delays, which were primarily attributed to general surgical cases taking priority (system delay). Our aim in the present study was to assess progress since then by making a prospective audit of delays in emergency oral and maxillofacial operations over a 6-month period. Data collected included duration and reason for delays, and these were correlated with type of operation, and compared to the performance in the same hospital 5 years previously.A total of 222 patients were booked on to the emergency list, which indicated that the workload had doubled during the 5 years. Mean delay had also increased, with 60% of patients waiting more than 12h, and 29% more than 24h. Fractured mandibles were most likely to be left. System delay accounted for 83% of delays. There had been no lessening of the delays in emergency operating, despite increased use of elective lists for emergencies. This may be attributed to the large increase in workload without matching increases in the number of staff or availability of theatres. In addition, problems with communication between specialties, the number of staff in theatre and recovery, and over-running of elective lists, contributed to the use of theatres that did not match their capacity. Since the end of the audited period there have been signs of improvement as a result of an interspecialty initiative to improve the productivity of emergency theatres, and the addition of a dedicated trauma list for oral and maxillofacial surgery.