Study: Overlapping surgery is safe

Editor's Note

Overlapping surgery can be safely performed without risking patient safety, this study from Emory University Hospital finds.

Of 2,275 neurosurgical cases included in the analysis, 1,303 were overlapping and 972 were nonoverlapping.

The researchers found no difference between overlapping and nonoverlapping neurosurgical procedures in terms of 90-day postoperative mortality, morbidity, or functional status.

Overlapping surgery is safe and has the potential to benefit patients by maximizing efficiency and making highly sought-after specialists available to a greater number of patients, the researchers say.

Question Is overlapping surgery associated with increased morbidity and mortality and worsened outcome measures compared with nonoverlapping surgery? Findings In this retrospective cohort study that included 2275 neurosurgical cases, no difference between overlapping and nonoverlapping surgery was identified for mortality, morbidity, or worsened functional status at discharge and follow-up.

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