Purpose: Emergent endovascular stent grafts for ruptured aortic aneurysm can reduce mortality considerably. This study analyzed the factors relating to the time spent on preoperative preparation. Strategies for accelerating the preparation process, maintaining patient safety, and cultivating a safe and high-quality surgical environment are proposed.
Materials and Methods: We investigated the factors that may lengthen preoperative preparation time and identified the associated causes, which included a lack of relevant knowledge and experience, failure to recall the location of equipment, use of traditional resection operation case carts, mistaken placement of the radiotranslucent table, and disorganized equipment. We implemented measures to improve preparation, such as enhancing staff education, listing instruments in the tray in detail, establishing specific-use case carts, drawing instructive diagrams detailing the use of the radiotranslucent table, setting a protocol and checklist for preparation, organizing and labeling surgical materials in an orderly fashion, and establishing an auditing system.
Results: The time spent on preoperative preparation was shortened from 28.2 to 14.5 min. We verified that this intervention had a positive effect in terms of expediting preparation.
Conclusion: The intervention successfully shortened the time spent on preoperative preparation. However, more methods are required to solve the remaining problems.