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Time of Surgery Doesn't Affect Risk for Death

A new study shows the timing of surgery, whether day or night, Monday or Friday, does not impact the risk of death after surgery.

While previous studies have raised concerns of a decrease in safety for surgical procedures performed later in the day or during the summer months, this new study shows that not to be the case.

"Elective surgery thus appears to be comparably safe at any time of the workday, any day of the workweek, and in any month of the year in our teaching hospital," the study’s authors conclude. The results can be useful for hospitals in scheduling surgeries.

Dr Daniel I. Sessler of The Cleveland Clinic and colleagues analyzed the results of approximately 32,000 elective surgeries that occurred between 2005 and 2010. The risk of death for patients within 30 days after surgery was analyzed based on what time, what day and what month the procedure took place.

Researchers eliminated emergency surgical procedures from the study, along with certain categories of surgeries commonly performed on an urgent basis. As a "negative control," researchers also looked at the differences in outcome based on the phase of the moon.

The overall risk of death was .43 percent within 30 days after surgery. After accounting for other factors, the risk for death was not significantly different for patients operated on at different times of day. There was also no proof of an increased risk of death for surgeries performed later in the workweek.

Time of year was also not shown to be a factor as risk was not increased for procedures performed in July and August. These summer months are when most new residents start working in teaching hospitals. As researchers expected, the phases of the moon also showed no difference.

Another analysis found no significant difference in complication rates for surgical procedures performed at different times of the day, days of the week, or months of the year. The overall rate was 13 percent for in-hospital complications.

"Human factors such as fatigue, circadian rhythms, scheduling, and staffing may have an impact on patient care across medical specialties," the study’s authors say.

Researchers note the results of this study apply to hospitals that perform "high risk surgery in a high-risk population" and may not be applicable to all hospitals.

For more on medical safety, see the library of articles by Daytona Beach medical malpractice attorney.

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