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Effect of Surgeon Age on Bariatric Surgery Outcomes
Haley Stevens1, Arthur M Carlin2,1, Rachel Ross1
1Michigan Bariatric Surgery Collaborative, Ann Arbor, MI.
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.
Insights
Surgeon age did not significantly impact patient outcomes in bariatric surgery. This study found no evidence to support age-specific physician retirement guidelines, emphasizing holistic performance evaluation for all surgeons.
Area of Science:
- Bariatric Surgery
- Surgical Outcomes
- Physician Performance
Background:
- Growing calls for physician retirement guidelines in the US.
- Assumption that older physicians have worse patient outcomes lacks robust evidence.
- The relationship between physician age and patient outcomes remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the relationship between bariatric surgeon age and patient outcomes.
- To investigate if surgeon age influences complication rates in bariatric procedures.
- To inform the development of physician performance evaluation guidelines.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 71 Michigan bariatric surgeons and 60,430 patients over 10 years.
- Focus on primary laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and sleeve gastrectomy.
- Calculation of odds ratios for 30-day postoperative complications by surgeon age group.
Main Results:
- Late-career surgeons had greater experience and higher annual case volume.
- Older surgeons performed more Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and less sleeve gastrectomy than younger surgeons.
- No statistically significant differences in overall or serious complication rates were found across surgeon age groups.
Conclusions:
- No significant association between bariatric surgeon age and patient outcomes in Michigan.
- Findings do not support age-specific retirement cut-offs for physicians.
- Supports holistic guidelines for evaluating and improving physician outcomes at all career stages.
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