Cancellation of scheduled surgeries is a latent problem in Colombia, which encompasses negative consequences for the patient (physically and psychologically), the health care personnel (well-being, satisfaction, performance) and the institution (cost-effectiveness). The rate of cancellation varies between 2,7 - 7,6 %. Most cancellations are preventable and occur due to administrative or programming issues. In this document, we performed a review on the gaps of knowledge on this problem in Colombia, and we highlighted some points for the research agenda.