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CC BY 4.0 · Eur J Pediatr Surg 2023; 33(03): 181-190
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1767830
Review Article

Complication Is Inevitable, but Suffering is Optional—Psychological Aspects of Dealing with Complications in Surgery

Hau D. Le
1   Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
,
Justyna M. Wolinska
2   Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
,
Reto M. Baertschiger
3   Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
,
Sharifa A. Himidan
3   Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
4   Department of Surgery, Humber River Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Abstract

Surgical complications remain common in health care and constitute a significant challenge for hospitals, surgeons, and patients. While they cause significant physical, financial, and psychological harm to patients and their families, they also heavily burden the involved physicians. This phenomenon, known as the “second victim,” results in negative short and long-term physical, cognitive, and psychological consequences on the surgeon. In this review, we explored the intricate connections between the surgeons' emotional response to adverse events concerning the patient outcome, perceived peer reaction, and existing social and institutional support systems. Using a selective literature review coupled with personal experiences, we propose a model of this complex interaction and suggest specific interventions to ameliorate the severity of response within this framework. The institution of the proposed interventions may improve the psychological well-being of surgeons facing complications and promote a cultural shift to better support physicians when they occur.

Keywords

complications - surgeons - psychological - well-being - second victim


Publication History

Received: 09 January 2023

Accepted: 24 January 2023

Article published online:
22 March 2023

© 2023. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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