Faculty Collaboration Database

Effect of Surgeon Age on Bariatric Surgery Outcomes. Ann Surg 2018 May;267(5):905-909

Date

05/10/2017

Pubmed ID

28486391

DOI

10.1097/SLA.0000000000002297

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85045137264 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   5 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to explore the relationship of bariatric surgeon age and patient outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Regulators, policy makers, and patient advocacy groups have recently been pushing to establish clear guidelines for physician retirement in the United States. Although it is often assumed that increasing physician age leads to worse patient outcomes, the relationship is lacking robust evidence, and is still unclear.

METHODS: We conducted a study analyzing all bariatric surgeons in Michigan who participated in a statewide collaborative quality improvement program (n = 71) who performed primary laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, or sleeve gastrectomy operations, and data on their patients (n = 60430) over the past 10 years. Our primary outcomes were 30-day postoperative complications. Odds ratios for overall complications and serious complications were calculated for each age group, and surgery type.

RESULTS: Late career surgeons had more bariatric surgery experience and had a higher average annual case volume than early career surgeons. Considering all cases in the past 10 years, older surgeons performed more Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (40%) and less sleeve gastrectomy (38.8%) than younger surgeons (34.7% and 51.5%). When adjusting for patient and surgeon characteristics, there were no statistically significant differences in overall or serious complication rates for either procedure among surgeon age groups.

CONCLUSIONS: When evaluating bariatric surgeons in the State of Michigan, we found no statistically significant association between surgeon age and patient outcomes. Our findings do not provide evidence for age-specific retirement cut-offs, but support the development of guidelines which are holistic, and focus on evaluating and improving physician outcomes at all career levels.

Author List

Stevens H, Carlin AM, Ross R, Stricklen A, Wood MH, Ghaferi AA

Author

Amir Ghaferi MD President, Phys Enterprise & SAD Clinical Affairs in the Medical College Physicians Administration department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Age Factors
Bariatric Surgery
Female
Humans
Male
Michigan
Middle Aged
Obesity, Morbid
Operative Time
Postoperative Complications
Quality Improvement
Reoperation
Retrospective Studies
Surgeons