Does operation order has impacts on postoperative complications in gastric cancer patients? A study of surgeon fatigue

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: There is a growing concern that accumulated fatigue due to extended working hours may contribute to poor surgical outcomes. This study aimed to compare postoperative complications of gastric cancer patients according to operation chronology in a given day as a yardstick of a surgeon's fatigue.METHODS: The clinicopathologic data of gastric cancer patients who underwent a curative gastrectomy by one surgeon in Asan Medical Center from August 2012 to August 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to operation chronology in a given day. Perioperative data were collected by electronic medical records. Comorbidities were assessed using the Charlson comorbidity index. Postoperative complications were categorized according to the Clavien-Dindo classification.RESULTS: A total of 517 patients were divided into three groups according to chronological order of the surgery in one day. Each group exhibited similar characteristics except for operation time (P=0.001) and the America Society of Anesthesiologists score (P=0.01). Operations conducted late in the day tended to require more time and were associated with more comorbidities. However, no significant differences were detected between the chronological order of operation in a given day and postoperative complications.CONCLUSION: The chronological order of three gastrectomies performed by one surgeon in a day was not associated with postoperative complications rate.