Frequency and causes of suspension of gynecological surgeries and patient satisfaction: Hospital III EsSalud, Lima-Perú.

Objective: To describe the frequency of gynecological surgery cancellation as well as the factors leading up to cancellation, and to examine how patients perceive this situation.

Methods: Case series including patients over 18 years of age scheduled for gynecological surgery due to benign conditions whose surgery was cancelled in a general referral hospital in Lima, Peru, between June 2019 and March 2020. Baseline characteristics of the patients and the reasons for cancellation were assessed, and the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire Short Form (PSQ-18) tool was administered. Descriptive analysis.

Results: The study included 84 patients. During the study period, the frequency of surgery cancellations was 11 %. Medical reasons were the main factor for surgery suspension, at 46.5 %; administrative causes accounted for 36.6 % of the cancellations, due mainly to lack of operation time in 25.4 %. In terms of satisfaction, 21,4 % of the patients were satisfied with the cancellation.

Conclusions: Good communication with patients whose surgery needs to be cancelled is essential. Further studies that look into this problem in our region are required.