Audit on induction time delays in operating room at Kibogora District Hospital: A quality improvement project

Background: Induction time delays in Operating room (OR) is an issue that affects the productivity of an operating unit especially in a setting with limited resources. It can also results in providing inappropriate services to the patients and their families. The aim of this study was to determine the causes of induction time delays and to propose solutions on how to avoid the reasons of delays. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted. It focused on elective general surgeries and orthopedic surgeries as they were mainly being performed during the study period. The data on the type of operation, the type of anesthesia, delay or no delay of induction (DOI) of anesthesia, causes of DOI were collected. DOI was considered as the time between the previous patient out of the OR and the next one in of more than 30 minutes. Emergency surgeries and elective obstetric surgeries were excluded from the study. Results: 24.8% of surgeries were done after delays of induction of anesthesia as opposed to 75.2% surgeries for which anesthesia was induced without delay. 48.6% of delays of induction to anesthesia were due to the hospital issues followed by anesthesia provision related issues. (40.0%). The surgery related and patient related issues accounted each one 5.7%. Conclusions: There was a high rate of surgeries that had delays in induction times. The OR managers need to work more with the hospital administration and the OR team to correct causes of delays.