Does overlapping surgery result in worse surgical outcomes? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Gartland RM, Alves K, Brasil NC, et al. Am J Surg. 2018 Dec 8; [Epub ahead of print].

This systematic review of the safety of overlapping surgery included 14 studies and did not find differences in 30-day mortality or overall morbidity in overlapping versus nonoverlapping surgery across a range of procedures. Researchers noted a small increase in length of procedure for overlapping surgeries. They conclude that overlapping surgery does not lead to higher risk for morbidity and mortality, despite the controversy associated with this practice.

PubMed citation Available at