Scientists warn against surgery on certain days due to complication risks
Which day of the week is not recommended for surgery (Illustrative photo: freepik.com)
A new study has found that surgical operations performed on certain days of the week are associated with a higher risk of complications and mortality. Scientists recommend carefully choosing the day for scheduled procedures to minimize potential negative outcomes.
Why surgeries should not be performed on Fridays, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open.
What did the research show
A recent study by Canadian and American researchers revealed that surgeries performed on Fridays are associated with an increased risk of complications, readmissions, and even mortality.
An analysis of data from nearly 430,000 patients who underwent 25 common surgical procedures between 2007 and 2019 showed that patients operated on Fridays had a 5% higher risk of negative outcomes compared to those who were operated on earlier in the week.
"In a cohort study involving 429 691 patients undergoing 25 common surgical procedures in Ontario, Canada, those who underwent surgery immediately before the weekend experienced a statistically significant increase in the composite outcome of death, complications, and readmissions at 30 days, 90 days, and 1 year compared with those treated after the weekend," said one of the study's authors, a clinical researcher from Houston, Vatsala Mundra.
In particular, the 30-day mortality risk was 9% higher for patients operated on Friday, with this risk increasing to 10% and 12% at three months and one year, respectively. This trend was especially noticeable in orthopedic and urological surgeries, as well as in elective procedures.
"In this cohort study, among adults undergoing surgical procedures, the odds of adverse postoperative outcomes, including death, readmission, and complications in the short and long term, were increased by 5% for patients undergoing surgery immediately preceding the weekend. This weekend effect was seen across multiple subspecialties, in particular among patients undergoing elective operations," the researchers emphasized.
Why are surgeries on Friday more risky
The main reason for this phenomenon, according to researchers, is the reduced number of medical staff on weekends. Patients operated on Friday often remain in the hospital over the weekend, when the number of doctors and nurses is limited, and access to senior specialists is more difficult.
"A weekend team with limited staff may be less likely to identify acute complications and act on them at early stages, leading to a higher level of complications in patients," the researchers explain.
Additionally, Friday surgeries are more often performed by younger surgeons with less experience in the operating room. On Fridays, they have reduced access to senior colleagues or consultants.
Staff working on weekends are also at a disadvantage, as they are less familiar with the patients compared to weekday teams who have been managing care throughout the week.
And that's not all.
A similar study was also conducted in the Netherlands, and it found that surgeries performed on Friday increased the risk of complications and mortality in the next 30 days by 20%.
Furthermore, a meta-analysis of more than 8 million patients worldwide, conducted in 2018, revealed a higher risk for surgeries performed on Fridays — a 24% increase in severe complications and mortality.
Given this data, researchers recommend that patients and medical institutions carefully plan the timing of surgical procedures to minimize potential risks and ensure the best treatment outcomes.
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