EFFECT OF OPERATING ROOM TURNOVER TIME ON SURGICAL EFFICIENCY AND PATIENT OUTCOMES: REDUCING DELAYS IN EMERGENCY SURGERY

Abstract

Background: Operating room turnover time is one of the most significant measures of the efficiency of surgery and could be a factor in access to timely emergency surgery. Extended turnaround times may result in a delay in operative intervention, sub-optimal theatre use and/or potential to adverse postoperative outcomes. Objective: To assess the effect of operating room turnover time on surgical efficiency and patient outcomes in emergency general surgery (EGS). Methods: Prospective observational study of 60 patients with an emergency general surgical procedure in a tertiary care hospital between 1st November 2025 and 30th April 2026. Patients were divided into those with operating room turnover time of ≤30 minutes and >30 minutes. Comparisons were made between various groups of surgical efficiency indicators and outcomes after surgery. A threshold p-value of < 0.05 was deemed statistically significant. Results: Of 60 patients, 34 (56.7%) had turnover times ≤30 minutes and 26 (43.3%) had turnover times >30 minutes. The mean decision-to-surgery time was 132 ± 46 minutes in the shorter-turnover group and 228 ± 71 minutes in the prolonged-turnover group (p<0.001). There were 20.6% and 50.0% of patients experiencing overall postoperative complications, respectively (p=0.027). There were significantly more ICU admissions in the prolonged-turnover group (30.8% vs 8.8%, p=0.044). The mean duration of the postoperative stay was significantly longer in the prolonged-turnover group (6.3 ± 2.4 days) than in the shorter-turnover group (4.1 ± 1.6 days) (p<0.001). Conclusion: The conclusion was that the prolonged operating room (OR) turnover was linked with poor surgical efficiency, a higher postoperative morbidity rate, higher use of ICUs and a longer hospital stay, especially in emergency surgeries.