Identifying Workflow Disruptions in the Cardiovascular Operating Room

The objectives of this study were to identify the frequency and nature of flow disruptions in the operating room with respect to three cardiac surgical team members: anaesthetists; circulating nurses; and perfusionists. Data collected from 15 cases and coded using a human factors taxonomy identified 878 disruptions. Significant differences were identified in frequency relative to discipline type. Circulating nurses experienced more coordination disruptions (v2 (2, N = 110) = 7.136, p < 0.028) and interruptions (v2 (2, N = 427) = 29.743, p = 0.001) than anaesthetists and perfusionists, whereas anaesthetists and perfusionists experienced more layout issues than circulating nurses (v2 (2, N = 153) = 48.558, p = 0.001). Time to resolve disruptions also varied among disciplines (k (12, 878) = 5.186, p = 0.000). Although most investigations take a one-size fits all approach in addressing disruptions to flow, this study demonstrates that targeted interventions must focus on differences with respect to individual role.