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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06693869

The Risk of Surgical Cancellation in Adult Patients Assessed by Telephone Versus In-person for Scheduled Non-cardiac Elective Surgery.

Telemedicine has been regulated in Colombia since 2006, with applications in anesthesia being explored since 2004 to improve accessibility and reduce costs. Although Decree 538 of 2020 expanded telemedicine's medical applications, challenges such as connectivity issues and training needs remain. Telemedicine has shown promise in rural areas of Colombia, particularly for managing chronic diseases. However, further evidence is needed regarding the effectiveness of telephone pre-anesthetic evaluations.

This study aims to investigate the implementation of telephone assessments for non-cardiac surgery and their impact on surgical cancellations compared to in-person pre-anesthetic evaluations. The primary question to answer is:

¿Does telephone pre-anesthetic assessment in non-cardiac surgical patients carry a higher risk of surgical cancellations compared to in-person evaluations?

To address this question, investigators will evaluate patients' medical records in two hospitals where patients were assessed using both telephone and in-person modalities.

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Key information

Conditions

Surgical Procedures Anesthesia Elective Surgery Cancellation Noncardiac Surgery Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Postoperative Complications Preanesthetic Medication Preoperative Care Risk Assessment Telemedicine

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

University of Antioquia

Medellín, Antioquia, 050001, Colombia

About this study

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telemedicine, including its application in preoperative anesthesia evaluations. While the use of telephone assessments in anesthesiology is increasing, there is ongoing debate about their accuracy in identifying medical risks and predicting potential post-surgical outcomes. Preanesthetic evaluations are essential for determining patient suitability for surgery and for classifying surgical risk.

Despite the benefits of increased accessibility and cost reduction associated with telephone assessments, concerns persist regarding their ability to match the thoroughness of in-person evaluations. This is particularly relevant given the potential for higher rates of surgical cancellations.

In Colombia, telephone preanesthetic evaluations for non-cardiac elective surgeries are a recent development that may optimize resource use and enhance patient satisfaction. However, it is crucial to investigate whether they lead to a cancellation rate comparable to that of in-person assessments, as this could be a significant barrier to widespread implementation. This study examines the effectiveness of telephone assessments for non-cardiac surgeries and their impact on surgical cancellations compared to in-person preanesthetic evaluations. A secondary objective of the study is to evaluate the incidence of perioperative complications, including cardiovascular issues, pulmonary complications, bleeding, unexpected ICU admissions, and non-anticipated difficult airways.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients who were scheduled for elective non-cardiac surgery.

Exclusion criteria

  • Pregnant patients.
  • Hospitalized patients

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. Surgical cancellation incidence

    Time frame: Pre-surgery

    The incidence of surgical procedure cancellation because of a medical condition affecting the patient and the surgery.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Incidence of unanticipated difficult airway

    Time frame: During the surgery

    Incidence of difficulties with facemask ventilation of the upper airway, tracheal intubation, or both.

  2. Incidence of perioperative cardiovascular complications

    Time frame: Late postoperative (until 7 days after surgery)

    Incidence of any perioperative cardiovascular complications during intraoperative or postoperative periods: all-cause death, sudden cardiac arrest, congestive heart failure, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), pulmonary embolism.

  3. Incidence of postoperative mechanical ventilation

    Time frame: early postoperative (until 2 hours after surgery)

    Incidence of postoperative mechanical ventilation.

  4. Incidence of perioperative respiratory complications

    Time frame: Late postoperative (until 7 days after surgery)

    The occurrence of respiratory complications in the perioperative period, including pneumonia, can happen within seven days following surgery

  5. Incidence of unplanned ICU admission

    Time frame: early postoperative (until 2 hours after surgery)

    Incidence of unplanned ICU admission in the postoperative

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universidad de Antioquia

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Nov 18, 2024
Registry last updated
May 5, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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