Retrospective analysis of surgery postponed or cancelled in the operating room.

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.