Cancellations in pediatric surgery

UNLABELLED: Cancellations have an important role in the effectiveness of the surgical schedule. OBJECTIVE: Analyze the evolution of the cancellations during the years 1994-1997, after institution of several corrective measures. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We started in 1994 together with the Quality Unit of the Hospital, a program to reduce surgical cancellations. It consisted in improvement of parents information, surgical schedule centralization, and increasing the awareness of the importance of constant improvement. Cancellations have been divided in: inevitables and inevitables, and analyzed for the entire Service and for each speciality. RESULTS: A significant reduction of cancellations have been obtain (from 12.38% in 1992 to 3.35% in 1997). The inevitable causes (no presentation, inadequate preparation and lack of time in the surgical room) have shown the most improvement. Although the inevitable causes (intercurrent disease) were also significantly improved, after obtaining prior information of the health of the child, by telephone call or parents advise. ENT is the speciality with greatest improvement by significant reduction of the non presentation and intercurrent disease. CONCLUSION: After corrective measures conjointly with a realistic surgical schedule, prior telephone call and improvement quality concept, have permitted a significant reduction of cancellations.