The risk for syncope and presyncope during surgery in surgeons and nurses

Area of Science:

• Medical research
• Occupational health
• Cardiology

Background:

• Operating room personnel, including surgeons and nurses, are susceptible to orthostatic stress.
• Understanding the incidence and predictors of syncope and presyncope in this population is crucial for patient and staff safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the lifetime incidence of syncopal and presyncopal events among surgical staff.
• To identify factors that predict these events during surgical procedures.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous questionnaire was administered to 317 operating room staff (216 surgeons, 101 instrumenters).
• The questionnaire assessed personal history of syncope and presyncope, both within and outside the operating room setting.

Main Results:

• 4.7% of participants reported at least one syncopal event, and 14.8% reported presyncope during surgery.
• A history of syncope or presyncope outside the operating room was a significant predictor of these events occurring during surgery (OR 20.2 and OR 10.8, respectively).
• Prodromal symptoms preceded most intraoperative syncopal events, suggesting a vasovagal origin.

Conclusions:

• Syncope and presyncope are potential occurrences for operating room staff during surgery.
• A prior history of syncope or presyncope is a strong risk factor for experiencing these events in the operating room.
• The relatively low incidence and lack of gender difference suggest professional preselection may play a role in the occurrence of syncope in this group.