Retrospective analysis of surgery postponed or cancelled in the operating room

Abstract

Study objective: To analyze the reasons for postponement or cancellation of surgery in the operating room (OR), and to determine the effect on patient outcomes.

Design: Retrospective analysis.

Setting: University-affiliated hospital.

Measurements: Over a 5-year period, 45,663 surgeries requiring anesthesia occurred. Surgery was postponed or cancelled in the OR for 67 patients (0.15%). Airway problems, change in medical condition, and change in surgical condition were the reasons recorded. Each patient's surgical result was audited using medical charts and telephone calls for at least 6 months.

Main results: 33 cases (49.3%) were postponed from one day to 6 months (range, one to 165 days; median, 8 days). The scheduled surgeries for 21 (31.3%) patients were never performed; and 9 patients (13.4%) died during their hospitalization (range, one to 20 days; mean, 12.7 days).

Conclusions: Surgery was postponed or cancelled in the OR mainly for changes in medical condition (70.2%); either medical risk outweighed the benefits of surgery, or alternative treatments were used.