Surgeon putting on mask in preparation for a surgery
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Throughout my life, I’ve undergone a dozen surgical procedures. While some were successful, others are best left unmentioned.
In preparing for each surgery, I took several prudent steps: exploring all non-surgical treatments, consulting multiple doctors to assess the potential benefits, and selecting surgeons from prestigious institutions.
However, I overlooked one crucial question that every patient should ask before surgery: “How many of these procedures did you perform last year?”
Several factors impact the success of surgery. Primarily, the patient’s health plays a significant role—the more ill you are, the higher the risk of complications post-surgery. Additionally, it’s essential to determine if the surgery is “indicated,” meaning whether the procedure will actually improve your condition. If surgery isn’t necessary, even the world’s best surgeon can’t justify it.
Once surgery is deemed necessary, it’s advantageous to choose a surgeon and hospital where the procedure is frequently performed. A surgeon conducting the operation 10 times a year is less experienced than one performing it 40 times.
A recent study on cancer surgeries highlights this. For instance, a patient with pancreatic cancer faces a 3% chance of mortality within 30 days if their surgeon handles 10 such cases annually. If the surgeon performs 100 operations annually, this risk is halved. For pancreatic cancer, it’s advisable to seek a surgeon who performs at least 40 procedures annually to reduce the risk of early death.
Similarly, liver cancer patients have a 4% risk of 30-day mortality if their surgeon conducts 10 operations a year, which is also halved if the surgeon performs at least 40 procedures annually.
The ideal number of annual procedures varies with the complexity of the surgery. More intricate operations demand a highly experienced surgical team.
Before undergoing a risky procedure, inquire about your surgeon’s experience with that specific operation. If their response leaves you uncertain, seek a second opinion from a potentially more seasoned surgeon.
Although it may seem bold to ask directly, this question could be vital for your safety.
