Technologies and management strategies for improving operational efficiency in operating theatres: A scoping review

OBJECTIVE: To map strategies, technologies and management practices reported in the literature that contribute to improving operational efficiency in operating theatres. METHOD: A scoping review conducted according to the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported following the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Searches were conducted in March 2025 in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Embase, CINAHL and the Virtual Health Library, as well as grey literature sources including Google Scholar and the CAPES. Studies published within the last 5 years addressing technologies to improve operational efficiency were included. RESULTS: Fifteen studies were included (11 articles and 4 theses/dissertations), most of which were conducted in the United States (40%). Identified strategies included Lean Six Sigma, scheduling automation, digital communication platforms and artificial intelligence, demonstrating improvements in indicators such as turnover time, surgical delays and theatre room idle time. CONCLUSION: Technological and process-improvement strategies show potential to optimise operating theatre performance and support safer, more efficient use of health care resources.