70 Decision to Incision Time: Can the Principle Be Applied to Emergency General Surgery in Order to Tackle Delays in Patient Care?

Abstract Aim General surgical patients who require emergency surgery should have timely access to operating theatre ensure optimal outcomes. It is important evaluate delays in order identify contributing elements and help improve standards of care. The decision incision time interval a benchmark used obstetric practice. This study aimed assess the use this general setting consider whether principle may be translatable. Method Prospective data were collected on undergoing tertiary care centre over four weeks. Data extracted from patient notes anonymised for statistical analysis. Results No statistically significant associations found with studied variables time. However, identified clear delays, 66% operations taking place after target assigned by NCEPOD classification. trends varying procedure type. also issues documentation an association between longer post-operative length stay. Conclusions highlights surgery. Decision reveals and, larger sample sizes, areas which hinder time-sensitive procedures. recommends that could more formally incorporated into better monitor delays. findings inform future research, required determine true potential using