RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggested that surgeon sex is associated with differential patient outcomes. Whether this also applies to anaesthesia providers is unclear. We hypothesised that female sex of the primary anaesthesia provider is associated with lower risk of perioperative complications. METHODS: The first case for all adult patients undergoing anaesthesia care between 2008 and 2022 at two academic healthcare networks in the USA was included in this retrospective cohort study. The primary exposure was the sex of the anaesthesia provider who spent the most time in the operating theatre during the case. The primary outcome was intraoperative complications, defined as hypotension (mean arterial blood pressure <55 mm Hg for ≥5 cumulative minutes) or hypoxaemia (oxygen saturation <90% for >2 consecutive minutes). The co-primary outcome was 30-day adverse postoperative events (including complications, readmission, and mortality). Analyses were adjusted for a priori defined confounders. RESULTS: Among 364,429 included patients, 57,550 (15.8%) experienced intraoperative complications and 55,168 (15.1%) experienced adverse postoperative events. Care by female compared with male anaesthesia providers was associated with lower risk of intraoperative complications (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.94-0.97, P<0.001), which was magnified among non-trainees (aOR 0.84, 95% CI 0.82-0.87, P-for-interaction <0.001). Anaesthesia provider sex was not associated with the composite of adverse postoperative events (aOR 1.00, 95% CI 0.98-1.02, P=0.88). CONCLUSIONS: Care by a female anaesthesia provider was associated with a lower risk of intraoperative complications, which was magnified among non-trainees. Future studies should investigate underlying mechanisms.
RESUMO
Background: There is paucity of data regarding prevalence and key harms of non-medical cannabis use in surgical patients. We investigated whether cannabis use in patients undergoing surgery or interventional procedures patients was associated with a higher degree of post-procedural healthcare utilisation. Methods: 210,639 adults undergoing non-cardiac surgery between January 2008 and June 2020 at an academic healthcare network in Massachusetts, USA, were included. The primary exposure was use of cannabis, differentiated by reported ongoing non-medical use, self-identified during structured, preoperative nursing/physician interviews, or diagnosis of cannabis use disorder based on International Classification of Diseases, 9th/10th Revision, diagnostic codes. The main outcome measure was the requirement of advanced post-procedural healthcare utilisation (unplanned intensive care unit admission, hospital re-admission or non-home discharge). Findings: 16,211 patients (7.7%) were identified as cannabis users. The prevalence of cannabis use increased from 4.9% in 2008 to 14.3% by 2020 (p < 0.001). Patients who consumed cannabis had higher rates of psychiatric comorbidities (25.3 versus 16.8%; p < 0.001) and concomitant non-tobacco substance abuse (30.2 versus 7.0%; p < 0.001). Compared to non-users, patients with a diagnosis of cannabis use disorder had higher odds of requiring advanced post-procedural healthcare utilisation after adjusting for patient characteristics, concomitant substance use and socioeconomic factors (aOR [adjusted odds ratio] 1.16; 95% CI 1.02-1.32). By contrast, patients with ongoing non-medical cannabis use had lower odds of advanced post-procedural healthcare utilisation (aOR 0.87; 95% CI 0.81-0.92, compared to non-users). Interpretation: One in seven patients undergoing surgery or interventional procedures in 2020 reported cannabis consumption. Differential effects on post-procedural healthcare utilisation were observed between patients with non-medical cannabis use and cannabis use disorder. Funding: This work was supported by an unrestricted philantropic grant from Jeff and Judy Buzen to Maximilian S. Schaefer.
