Patient, personnel, induction factors that affect OR start times

Editor's Note

Though patient and personnel factors affect the order of case induction, induction time is most dependent on patient factors, this study finds.

Of 15,823 cases analyzed, predictors of later patient induction included add-on case, ASA class 3 or more, neuraxial anesthesia, and CRNA staffing.

In 11,093 (70.1%) cases, the anesthesiologist was scheduled for multiple first starts with a choice of which patient to induce first.

Surgeon gender was predictive of induction order, with male surgeons’ cases induced first more frequently than female surgeons’ cases (47% vs 44.1%). Cases staffed by anesthesiology residents also were more likely to be induced first compared with those staffed by CRNAs (52.1% vs 41.5%).

Hospitals should focus on improving preparedness and limiting bias to create a more equitable and efficient process for OR start times, the researchers say.