Key result
Preanesthesia evaluation clinic visits were associated with fewer perceived day-of-surgery delays, with 23% of anesthesiologists reporting frequent delays versus 57% without a visit.
Why the study?
Does a preanesthesia evaluation clinic visit reduce perceived day-of-surgery delays caused by missing patient information?
Cross-Sectional (n=1,857)
Yes
Does a preanesthesia evaluation clinic visit reduce perceived day-of-surgery delays caused by missing patient information?
Absolute Event Rate: 23% vs 57%
Preanesthesia evaluation clinics are perceived to reduce day-of-surgery delays, though missing information remains a common cause of delays despite these visits.
Associated with fewer perceived delays; leaves open need for prospective trials to confirm impact.
In Brief BACKGROUND: One purpose of preanesthesia evaluation clinics (PECs) is to decrease the incidence of day-of-surgery delays and cancellations by ensuring that patients are medically ready for surgery. In several single-center studies, PECs have been shown to have a positive impact. However, limited information is available regarding their overall use and perceived effectiveness. METHODS: A survey was distributed to attendees of the 2005 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. The survey addressed the national prevalence of PECs and the most common methods for referral to them. Respondents were also asked to address the impact of PEC visits on perceived prevalence of day-of-surgery delays caused by missing patient information. RESULTS: One thousand eight hundred fifty-seven surveys were returned. Sixty- nine percent of respondents worked at institutions with a PEC. Fifty-seven percent of respondents indicated that delays occur in at least 1 in 10 patients not seen for preanesthesia evaluation prior to the day of surgery. For patients who had a PEC visit prior to surgery, the same frequency of delays was reported by 23% of respondents. CONCLUSIONS: Day-of-surgery delays caused by missing information remain relatively common despite preanesthesia evaluation. Possible causes for these delays include failures of information transfer, lack of consensus on criteria for surgical readiness, or other institutional factors. IMPLICATIONS: Preanesthesia evaluation clinics are a common component of hospital institutions, but information obtained during the presurgical visit may not be available on the day of surgery. As a result, missing patient information may continue to cause delays on the day of surgery.
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Holt et al. (2007) conducted a cross-sectional in Day-of-surgery delays (n=1,857). Preanesthesia evaluation clinic (PEC) visit vs. No preanesthesia evaluation clinic visit was evaluated on Perceived frequency of day-of-surgery delays in at least 1 in 10 patients. Preanesthesia evaluation clinic visits were associated with fewer perceived day-of-surgery delays, with 23% of anesthesiologists reporting frequent delays versus 57% without a visit.
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