Key result
The raw utilization time of the general surgery operating theater was 83.8%, with technical difficulties (26.6%) and equipment issues (16.7%) being the primary causes of delays.
Why the study?
The operation theater represents a significant hospital expenditure, necessitating maximum utilization for cost efficiency, but the raw utilization percentage required assessment.
Cross-Sectional (n=233)
No
The study demonstrates an 83.8% raw utilization rate in a general surgery operating theater, identifying technical difficulties and equipment issues as primary causes for delays.
Highlights potential OR inefficiencies from technical issues; leaves open whether targeted interventions improve utilization in prospective studies.
INTRODUCTION: The operation theater (OT) is a significant expenditure in hospital budgets, necessitating maximum utilization for optimal cost efficiency. This study aims to determine the percentage of raw utilization time of general surgical theaters at Indus Hospital, Karachi. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to assess the raw utilization percentage of the general surgery OT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted between February 20, 2022, and August 25, 2022 at the Department of General Surgery, the Indus Hospital, Karachi. All elective surgical procedures performed between 08:00 AM and 05:00 PM that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed. Raw utilization time was calculated from the collected data. RESULTS: The majority of patients were female (62.7%). The raw utilization time was 83.8%. The most common reasons for discrepancies between actual and projected procedure times were technical difficulties (26.6%), equipment-related issues (16.7%), and staff shortages (2.6%). CONCLUSION: This study identifies avoidable factors contributing to discrepancies in procedure timing. Improved communication among surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nursing staff prior to surgeries could help mitigate delays.
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Awais et al. (2025) conducted a cross-sectional in Scheduled general surgeries (n=233). Operating theater utilization was evaluated on Raw utilization percentage of the general surgery operating theater. The raw utilization time of the general surgery operating theater was 83.8%, with technical difficulties (26.6%) and equipment issues (16.7%) being the primary causes of delays.
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