Unplanned reoperation following gynaecological surgeries : a report from Jordan

Abstract EN

Objectives: Unplanned return to the operating theatre refers to an unplanned reoperation following a primary surgical procedure and can result in serious complications.

The rate of unplanned reoperations is often used as a measure of in-hospital quality monitoring and improvement.

This study aimed to review the prevalence rate and features of unplanned gynaecological reoperations at a major general hospital in Jordan.

Methods: This retrospective study took place between January 2011 and January 2018 at The Specialty Hospital in Amman, Jordan.

The medical records of all women who underwent unplanned reoperations following a primary gynaecological procedure during this period were reviewed.

Results: A total of 4,895 primary gynaecological procedures were performed during the study period, of which 4,175 (85.3%) were elective and 720 (14.7%) were emergency operations.

There were 15 unplanned reoperations (0.3%); of these, 14 (93.3%) followed elective procedures and one (6.7%) followed an emergency surgery.

Most reoperations were performed following hysterectomies (53.3%).

Bleeding was the predominant reason for reoperation (93.3%), with the source of the bleeding successfully identified in 71.3% of cases.

In terms of outcome, none of the cases required a subsequent reoperation and there were no mortalities.

Conclusion: The rate of unplanned reoperation at a hospital in Jordan was 0.3%.

Unplanned reoperations occurred primarily as a result of bleeding following hysterectomies.

Development of care pathways may reduce surgical complications and rates of unplanned reoperation.