• A R Tait, T Voepel-Lewis, H M Munro, H B Gutstein, and P I Reynolds.
• Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor 48109, USA.
• J Clin Anesth. 1997 May 1; 9 (3): 213-9.

Study ObjectiveTo determine the cause and timing of case cancellation in a pediatric outpatient surgical population, and to examine the economic and emotional impact of such cancellations on patients and their families.DesignQuestionnaire survey.SettingOutpatient surgery unit of a large university children's hospital.Participants127 parents of children whose elective outpatient surgery had been cancelled.InterventionsA total of 200 questionnaires were mailed to the parents of children who had their outpatient surgery cancelled.Measurements And Main ResultsOf those children whose surgery had been cancelled, 34.6% were due to upper respiratory infections (URIs), 30.7% for other medical reasons, and the balance for scheduling errors, because the child had not fasted, or for difficulties with transportation. The majority of surgeries (58.3%) were cancelled prior to their scheduled surgery date. However, 18.9% were cancelled on the day of surgery prior to leaving for the hospital and 22.8% were cancelled on arrival at the outpatient surgery clinic. Of those patients whose surgeries were not cancelled until they arrived at the hospital, 38.5% of mothers and 50.0% of fathers missed a day of work and, of these, 53.3% and 42.1%, respectively, went unpaid for the work day missed. The mean number of miles driven (round trip) to the hospital for a cancelled operation was 158.8 miles (range 8 to 1,350 miles). Additional testing and new appointments were ordered in 25.2% of the cancelled cases. 45% of parents and 16% of children were disappointed by the cancellation; 16% of parents were frustrated by the cancellation and 3.3% were angry.ConclusionsThis study suggests that last-minute cancellation of surgery has an important impact on patients and their families and suggests a need to review present protocols for screening patients prior to surgery.

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