Last-minute surgery changes? Experts share tips on how to handle cancelled surgeries
Preparing for surgery can be scary.
In addition to the medical issues, having surgery involves a lot of prep. You may need to coordinate childcare, transportation, finances and time off work. Designate a caregiver. Stop taking certain medications and fast a certain set of hours ahead of surgery.
While most scheduled surgeries do proceed as planned, same-day cancellations for surgeries and other procedures are fairly frequent, ranging from 2.5% to 20%, depending on the procedure, according to Dr. Matthias Eikermann, chair of anaesthesiology at Montefiore Einstein, a New York-based academic health system, and also an anaesthesiology professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He and his colleague Dr. Karuna Wongtanman have worked together on studies related to surgery cancellations.
Hospitals or surgeons can cancel surgeries for various reasons. In the case of South Florida retiree Michael Davis, his heart surgery at UHealth was canceled by top Miami surgeon Dr. Joseph Lamelas after the 71-year-old waited all day in the waiting room. Staff told Davis the cancellation was due to Lamelas taking longer in the operating room with a patient who experienced complications.
The experience, and lack of timely follow-up by the hospital to reschedule the procedure or apologize for the delay, frustrated and angered the Davises.
READ MORE: He was ready for surgery with Miami’s top surgeon. Here’s how it went wrong
For Karissa Charles, executive director of nonprofit Heart Valve Voice US, Davis’ story is a reminder of the importance of patient advocacy and patient-focused care.
“There is a lot of talk in our community about just how patients have to mentally prepare for this procedure,” including “the amount of work that goes into preparing for those doctor appointments in advance,” said Charles, whose nonprofit’s mission is to improve the diagnosis, treatment and management of heart valve disease.
It’s “really important just to make sure that the patient feels comfortable,” Charles said. “This is a scary surgery. Even though it’s considered elective, patients are still very apprehensive about it.”
Here is what experts say patients and caregivers should know ahead of surgery:
What caregivers should ask
Charles said caregivers need to be advocates for their loved ones and ask questions ahead of surgery, including details on what the backup plan is if the operation has to be canceled or postponed. They should also ask medical staff a series of questions if the surgery is delayed, including what the reason is, when would be the next available date to do the surgery, and if there’s another doctor available, sooner, to do the operation.
The patient - or the patient’s advocate - should also ask the surgeon whether they will be the first, second, third patient - or higher - that the surgeon will be operating on that day.
They should also ask the surgeon whether he or she remains in the operating room during the entire surgery, or do they jump from one surgery to another in a different operating room at the same time - a practice known as “concurrent surgeries.”
Eikermann and Wongtanman say caregivers should also track symptoms and health changes in their loved ones in the days, or weeks, leading up to surgery. If your loved one’s surgery needs to be rescheduled, this type of information could help doctors decide whether the surgery needs to happen sooner.
The American College of Surgeons website also has a list of questions it recommends patients or caregivers ask ahead of the operation. This includes asking about the risks, benefits and possible complications of the surgery, if everyone involved in the surgery is covered by your insurance and what the surgeon’s success rate is with the procedure, including how common complications are.
Why surgeries are canceled
Eikermann and Wongtanman say there are various reasons why a surgery may be canceled.
The anesthesiologists say cancellations are sometimes related to issues involving a patient’s pre-existing condition or newly discovered health problems. Other times, patients will bail on the procedure due to anxiety, lack of transportation or caregiver ability.
Providers may also cancel surgeries because they’re handling an ER situation or a complication in a previous surgery, similar to what happened in Davis’ situation. Limited availability in specialized surgeons and fatigue can also play a role.
This story was originally published November 19, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
