Abstract
Purpose: :
To report the incidence and analyse the potentially preventable causes of ocular surgery at a day case surgery unit in the U.K
Methods: :
A retrospective review of the cancellations of all ophthalmic procedures conducted at Dudley Guest Hospital, U.K from January 2004 to December 2006.
Results: :
Five hundred and twenty-one of 5407 (9.6%) ophthalmic procedures carried out at Dudley Guest Hospital were cancelled within 24 hours of the scheduled start time. Cancellations occurred more frequently during winter months (Jan 12%, Mar 11%) and in summer (Jul 10%). There was no predilection for gender (male 51%, female 49%) and the mean age was 67 years old. Of the total causes, 48% were considered "preventable", 50% "unpreventable" and 2% "no reason given". Cataract surgery accounted for 68% of all cancelled ocular procedures followed by minor operations (16%) and oculoplastic procedures (9%). Leading causes of preventable cancellations in cataract surgery included uncontrolled high blood pressure (15%) and patients not wanting the procedure at time of surgery (6%). With minor operations, 41% did not require the procedure at time of surgery.
Conclusions: :
Cancellations expends both money and time and under uses resources within any healthcare organisation. We have highlighted that both winter and summer months are where cancellation rates were amongst the highest in the U.K. Of the reasons documented for cancellations, 48% were considered preventable. With prior planning scheduling operations and better preoperative counselling and instructions, day case units should aim to reduce their cancellation rates.
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: treatment/prevention assessment/controlled clinical trials • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: health care delivery/economics/manpower