[Evaluating the prevalence of canceling surgical operations, including its influening factors at Imam Khomeini hospital in Sari duing 2006-2007]

ABSTRACT

Hospital admission for surgery is an important event for patients. Canceling surgical procedures produce several unpleasant results for patients such as waste of time, including payment. The aim of this study is to identify the prevalence and causes of canceling surgical procedures, in order to achieve problem solving methods. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. Statistical data regarding all surgical procedures [without sampling] performed during 2006 to 2007, were recorded in a checklist. Study variables were identified based on surgical procedures that were canceled during this study. Data was analyzed using SPSS software and statistical analysis tests. Of 4,711 scheduled patients, 510 [109%] surgical operations were canceled. The highest number of patient candidates for surgical operation was related to gynecology, orthopedic, urology, while the least were related to reconstructive and vascular surgery groups respectively. The most canceled surgical procedures were related to neurosurgical operation 32/4% [68 from 207 cases] while the least canceled cases belonged to gynecology 4/4% [48 from 1094 cases]. The results of our study showed that 54/2% of canceled cases were preventable. The results of this study and similar studies demonstrate that traditional pre-operative preparation for surgical scheduling, day before surgery is in need of serious consideration. We recommend a fundamental change by discarding traditional methods and creating a new committee including specialized bed or resource groups, monthly management meetings to discuss causes of canceling surgical procedures, in order to reduce its occurrence. Thus, decreasing the rate of canceling surgical operations can save hospital financial resources, preventing time wasted, while reducing anxiety in patients and their family