Increased Surgeon Stress Linked to Reduced Surgical Complications

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Jan 15, 2025.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2025 -- Increased surgeon stress at the beginning of a surgical procedure is associated with reduced major surgical complications, according to a study published online Jan. 15 in JAMA Surgery.

Jake Awtry, M.D., from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and colleagues conducted a multicenter prospective cohort study in 14 surgical departments within four university hospitals to examine whether surgeon physiological stress, as assessed by sympathovagal balance, is associated with postoperative complications. The analysis included 793 surgical procedures performed by 38 attending surgeons.

The median surgeon heart rate was 88 beats per minute, and the median low-frequency to high-frequency ratio was 7.16 and 1.00 before and after normalization, respectively. The researchers observed an association for increased surgeon sympathovagal balance during the first five minutes of surgery with significantly reduced major surgical complications (adjusted odds ratio, 0.63; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.41 to 0.98; P = 0.04); associations were not seen with reduced intensive care unit stay (adjusted odds ratio, 0.34; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.11 to 1.01; P = 0.05) or mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 0.18; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.03 to 1.03; P = 0.05).

"The results suggest an association between human factors elements and patient outcomes while highlighting the complex association between physiological stress and surgeon performance," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2025-01-16 06:00

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords