A systematic review and meta-analysis of the incidence and severity of postoperative fatigue

Postoperative fatigue is common following major abdominal surgery. Less is known about its prevalence in other surgical subgroups, and about its long-term prognosis. A systematic review of prospective cohort studies was conducted to clarify these issues.

Studies were identified from an extensive literature search. Overall estimates of pre- to postoperative change in fatigue severity and the incidence of clinically significant postoperative fatigue were calculated using meta-analyses.

Eighty-one cohorts were identified. Type of surgery was found to be a possible predictor of fatigue severity, with major abdominal, gynaecological, cardiac and minor surgery apparently associated with greater fatigue than orthopaedic surgery. Limited data were available regarding the long-term persistence of postoperative fatigue.

Postoperative fatigue appears to be an important problem following only certain forms of surgery. Why this is so remains unclear, and further work using better fatigue questionnaires is now required to confirm these differences.