Factors attributable to the cancellation of programmed surgeries

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Surgical Outcomes
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Surgical cancellations impact healthcare resource allocation and patient trust.
• Understanding reasons for cancellations is crucial for improving healthcare delivery.
• This study examines surgical cancellations at a tertiary care institution in Valledupar, Colombia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze factors contributing to surgical cancellations.
• To provide data for implementing targeted interventions.
• To enhance patient safety and optimize surgical scheduling.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional study design was employed.
• Data were collected from the hospital surgical unit's adverse case file.
• Analysis covered 6 surgical specialties over a two-year period (2017-2018).

Main Results:

• In 2017, 4% of 3339 scheduled surgeries were canceled; in 2018, 3% of 1733 were canceled.
• Patient-related adverse conditions were the primary reason, accounting for 45.9% (2017) and 38.5% (2018) of cancellations.
• General surgery experienced the highest cancellation rates, at 4% in both years.

Conclusions:

• Patient-related adverse conditions are significant factors in surgical cancellations.
• Implementing targeted measures is essential to improve patient safety.
• Reducing surgery cancellations can optimize healthcare services and patient outcomes.