Is Night Surgery a Nightmare for Lung Transplantation?

Area of Science:

• Cardiothoracic Surgery
• Transplantation Medicine
• Surgical Outcomes Research

Background:

• Night work is linked to increased medical complications and sleep deprivation.
• Lung transplantation (LT) occurs around the clock, involving numerous healthcare professionals.
• Understanding the impact of operative timing on LT outcomes is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare morbidity and mortality in lung transplant recipients based on whether the surgery was performed during the day or at night.
• To investigate potential differences in complications and survival rates associated with lung transplant operative time.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective, observational, single-center study was conducted.
• Patients were categorized into 'Daytime' (6 AM - 6 PM) and 'Nighttime' (6 PM - 6 AM) groups based on LT start time.
• Data from 253 LT recipients between January 2015 and December 2020 were analyzed.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in 90-day or one-year mortality rates between the Daytime and Nighttime LT groups.
• Lung donor characteristics were comparable across both groups.
• Daytime LT was associated with a higher incidence of one-year airway dehiscence (21% vs. 7.1%).

Conclusions:

• Operative time (day vs. night) did not significantly impact survival rates in lung transplant recipients.
• Daytime lung transplantation showed a higher rate of airway dehiscence at one year.
• Further research may be needed to explore the reasons behind the increased airway dehiscence in daytime procedures.