Clinical audit on the root cause analysis of waiting time for surgical patients who undergo emergency surgery in Debre Markos Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia, 2023

Abstract Background Emergency surgery is characterized as a life-saving procedure performed right away, along with resuscitation and surgical care. The study aims to improve the root causes of waiting time for patients who undergo emergency surgical patients. Methodology : All consecutive emergency surgical patients who undergo emergency surgery are included in the study period. The data were checked, coded, entered, and cleaned by using SPSS version 20. Descriptive analysis was performed using SPSS version 20. Results will be expressed in graphs, frequencies, and percentages. All the data were collected based on NSW emergency surgery guidelines and based on literature review data collection formats and directly changed into open-ended question forms. Result A total of 50 surgical emergency patients were operated in a major operation theater at Debre Markos Comprehensive Specialized Hospital during the study period. Thirty-nine (78%) of surgical emergency patients had prolonged wait times with a mean of 8 hours with a standard deviation of 4.44. Of those the cause of waiting time was around 22% due to preoccupation with the operation theater, 18% due to lack of OR supplies like Gown/drip, and water, 16% due to financial constraints and logistics of the patients, 12%patients delayed giving consent, 12%patient delayed due to procedures need special intervention. Conclusion and Recommendation The mean waiting time of emergency surgical patients who undergo emergency surgery in the Debre Markos Compressive and Specialized Hospital was 8 hrs. with a standard deviation of 4.44. A total of 78% of emergency surgical patients experience prolonged waiting times because of their preoccupation with the operation theater. Prioritization of emergency cases following emergency surgery guidelines is required in the Debre Markos compressive and specialized hospital to replace the current system.