Factors Affecting Operative Time Intervals for Lower Limb Arthroplasties - Correlation with Total Operative Time

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The aim of this study is to evaluate the operative time intervals for major orthopaedic surgeries and analyze the correlation of different operative factors on total operative time. MATERIAL AND METHODS Specific time intervals; anesthesia release time (ART), surgical preparation time (SPT), operative procedure time (OPT), and anesthesia end time (AET); were recorded by independent observers. Total operative procedure time (TOPT), was also calculated and statisctical correlation analysis was performed between TOPT and study parameters. RESULTS The difference for ART and SPT time intervals between age groups below 65 and 65 to 85 years were found statistically significant. As the patient's age increased, ART and SPT time intervals were also significantly increased. As the patients ASA status increased, the ART intervals were also increased. ART and AET time intervals were significantly longer for residents compared to specialists. DISCUSSION This is one of the first studies in the literature analyzing different time intervals and their correlation on total operative time for major orthopaedic surgeries. Current study also analyzed the effects of other factors including age and ASA score of the patients, type of anesthesia and experience of anesthegiogist on operative time intervals. This study was designed for the analysis of specific time intervals previously described in the literature for only some major orthopaedic surgeries. By this way, we aimed to achieve a homogenous study group and to obtain comparable results with the literature. CONCLUSIONS The strongest correlation was found between ART and TOPT. As the patient's age increased, ART and SPT time intervals were also significantly increased. Increased age and higher ASA scores with an unexperienced anesthegiologist significantly increased the ART intervals. Therefore, reducing ART is the most important factor in reducing TOPT. Key words:arthroplasty, anaesthesia, operation time.