Residency

Sleepy and well-rested residents perform similarly during surgery, study says

Residency Program Insider, August 31, 2010

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Well-rested residents may not be better surgeons than less-rested counterparts, a new study in the Journal of Surgical Research reports.

Researchers compared surgery outcomes of 2,900 laparoscopic cholecystectomies, and 1,700 appendectomies performed by residents between July 2003 and March 2009. They looked at surgeries performed during residents’ first 16 hours on duty and those performed during the last eight hours of a 24-hour shift, comparing the following:

  • Complication rates
  • Conversion to open operation
  • Length of surgery
  • Mortality


The findings come at an interesting time as the ACGME considers reducing resident work hours. Well-rested residents may not equate to better patient outcomes, according to the study.
 



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