Long surgery times are definitely unsafe. The longer you are under anesthesia and having a procedure, they higher the chances for complications, even death! There are many studies out that universally conclude that surgery lasting over 6 hours has a huge increase in complications. While there are some surgeries that HAVE to last over 6 hours, they are complex and lifesaving, or unforeseen events occur prolonging the procedure. Elective procedures that are supposedly’ routine’ for a surgeon should never last this long!
If a surgeon is touting him/herself as a specialist and the procedures last over 6 hours one must ask:
- is this the norm for those in their specialty….is this surgeon an outlier?
- is this surgeon particularly slow compared to others?
- is too much being attempted in one surgery?…can it be staged?
Patients must thoroughly research the surgeon they are considering have perform a procedure. They can check local board of health sites, legitimate web based evaluation sites, social media posts. Sites where patients have to identify themselves are more feasible than others. A surgeon will never tell you he/she is an outlier in surgical times! Nor will their friendly colleagues who continue to refer patients to them!…a very scary fact!!!
It is often difficult to obtain this information, but if one seeks out the right sources, this information can be obtained. If you know people that work is surgery, nurses, anesthesia, scrub techs, etc., they can provide some insight into this. Personal physicians, you trust, can also be of value with this information.
HOWEVER, YOU MUST BE AWARE THERE ARE THOSE THAT PROTECT AND DO NOT CARE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE SURGEONS WHO ARE OUTLIERS, IN SURGERY, WITH HIGH COMPLICATION RATES AND EVEN MORTALITY . HOSPITAL STAFFS DO ABSOLUTLEY NOTHING TO PREVENT FURTHER INCIDENCES FROM OCCURRING. THIS IS FRIGHTENING, YET FACT! BEWARE AND DO YOUR RESEARCH!
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