Factors Predicting Operating Room Time in Ureteroscopy and Ureterorenoscopy

Abstract

Operation room (OR) time is of great value affecting surgical outcome, complications and the daily surgical program with financial implications. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 570 consecutive patients submitted to ureteroscopy or ureterorenoscopy for the treatment of ureteral or renal stones. Demographic parameters, patient's stones characteristics, type of ureteroscope, surgeon experience and surgical theater characteristics were analyzed. OR time was calculated from the initiation of anesthesia to patient extubation. Multivariate analysis was conducted using a linear regression test with multiple parameters to identify predictors of OR time. Results: Eight factors were identified as significant. These include total stones volume, ureteroscope used, stone number, nurses experience, radio-opacity of the stone on kidney-ureter-bladder X-ray, main surgeon experience, operating room type, and having a nephrostomy tube prior to surgery. Conclusions: The surgical team experience and familiarity with endourological procedure, and the surgical room characteristics has a crucial impact on OR time and effectiveness.