Retrospective Review of Cancellations and Rescheduling in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Theatre Lists at University of Abuja Teaching Hospital

Theatre cancellations and rescheduling represent a significant source of inefficiency in surgical service delivery, contributing to extended patient waiting times, resource wastage, and increased morbidity from delayed intervention. In Nigerian teaching hospitals, the operational factors driving oral and maxillofacial surgery theatre cancellations have received limited analytical attention. This retrospective review analyzes the frequency, reasons, and patient impact of oral and maxillofacial surgery theatre cancellations at University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) over a 24-month period from January 2022 to December 2023. Theatre operation registers were reviewed and cancellation events classified by patient-related, clinician-related, administrative, and resource-related causes. A total of 412 procedures were scheduled, of which 89 (21.6%) were cancelled or rescheduled. Patient non-attendance was the most frequent patient-related cause at 35% of cancellations, followed by medical unfitness discovered on the day of surgery at 22%. Equipment failure, absence of anaesthesia team, and consumable shortages accounted for 43% of system-related cancellations. The study identifies correctable bottlenecks in the pre-operative assessment pathway and theatre management process. Recommendations include the introduction of pre-admission assessment clinics, same-week confirmation calls to patients, and a predictive theatre scheduling system to reduce preventable cancellations and improve efficiency at UATH and similar institutions. Keywords: theatre cancellations, oral surgery, operating list, Abuja Teaching Hospital, efficiency.