Utility of history and physical updates for ambulatory otolaryngic surgery.
OBJECTIVE
Preoperative assessment is intended to identify anesthetic risk and a patient's appropriateness to undergo a proposed surgery. The timing of these assessments varies among institutions. In our ambulatory surgery center, preoperative reassessments were initially performed within 30 days of surgery (group A). Recently, this changed to require reassessments within 7 days of surgery (group B). Now, the policy mandates a preoperative reassessment within 24 hours (group C). We evaluate whether there are differences in surgical cancellations based on these new reassessment intervals.


METHODS
Retrospective operative log and chart review.


METHODS
We identified 1,108 cases representative of group A. The rate of surgical cancellations for this group was compared with that of the 3,705 cases in group B and the 1,060 cases in group C. Differences were evaluated with a chi test.


RESULTS
Total cancellation rates for groups A, B, and C were 3.0%, 3.3%, and 3.9%, respectively (P = .51). Cancellations secondary to a history and physical examination findings during these preoperative reassessment periods were 0.81%, 0.38%, and 0.66% for groups A, B, and C, respectively (P = .15).


CONCLUSIONS
Cancellation rates for patients undergoing ambulatory otolaryngic surgery based on preoperative reassessment intervals of 30 days, 7 days, and 24 hours were similar.
Lee
Scott L
SL
Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Albany Medical Center, 35 Hackett Boulevard, Albany, NY 12208, U.S.A. leesl@gmail.amc.edu
Taliercio
Salvatore
S
Ata
Ashar
A
Clayton
Jessica
J
Parnes
Steven M
SM
D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D016134:Organizational Policy; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010808:Physical Examination; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013531:Surgicenters / Q000458:organization & administration; D013997:Time Factors