Harvard study assesses surgeon as second victim

Editor's Note

Intraoperative adverse events (iAEs) occur often and have a significant negative impact on surgeons’ wellbeing, this study finds. Barriers to transparency include fear of litigation and absence of a well-defined reporting system.

A survey was conducted of all surgeons at three major teaching hospitals connected with the Harvard Medical School, Boston; the response rate was 44.8%.

In the past year, 32% of respondents recalled 1 iAE, 39% reported 2-5 iAEs, and 9% had more than 6 iAEs. The emotional toll was significant, with 84% reporting a combination of anxiety (66%), guilt (60%), sadness (52%), shame/embarrassment (42%), and anger (29%).

The most common barriers to reporting iAEs were fear of litigation (50%), lack of a standardized reporting system (49%), and the absence of a clear iAE definition (48%).

Efforts should be made to support surgeons and standardize reporting when iAEs occur, the authors say.

Intraoperative adverse events occur often, have a significant negative impact on surgeons’ wellbeing, and barriers to transparency are fear of litigation and absence of a well-defined reporting system. Efforts should be made to support surgeons and standardize reporting when intraoperative adverse events occur.