Large analysis contradicts findings on surgeon gender, patient outcomes

Editor's Note

Contradicting previous research suggesting potentially improved surgical outcomes for female surgeons, the largest analysis to date finds that gender has only a small statistical, clinically marginal correlation.

Appearing in the September issue of Annals of Surgery, the study involved 4,882,784 patients operated on by 11,955 female surgeons (33% of surgeons performing 21% of procedures) and 23,799 male surgeons (67% of surgeons performing 79% of procedures).

Unadjusted incidence of the primary outcome—a composite of in-hospital death, complications, and/or 30-day readmission—was 13.6% (10.7%-female surgeons, 14.3%-male surgeons; P<0.0001). Propensity matching resulted in 13% incidence. Female surgeon gender was slightly correlated with mortality and complication rates but not readmissions.

“The variation across surgical specialties and procedures suggests that the association with surgeon gender is unlikely causal for the observed differences in outcomes,” researchers conclude. “Patients should be reassured that surgeon gender alone does not have a clinically meaningful impact on their outcome.”