Does Academic Quarter or Operative Day of the Week Affect Free Flap Success?

The "July Effect" refers to the potential increase in adverse outcomes associated with the annual turnover of medical trainees, although its impact on surgical fields remains uncertain. Additionally, few studies have examined whether the operative day of the week and subsequent flap monitoring during the weekend affect time to reoperation or flap salvage. This study investigated whether academic quarter and operative day influence reoperation rates, flap salvage, or flap failure in microvascular free flap procedures.

A retrospective review was conducted between June 2011 and November 2023. Multivariate analyses adjusted for patient demographics, comorbidities, flap type, and recipient region. Flaps were categorized by academic quarter and operative day, excluding weekends due to limited sample size. Primary outcomes included reoperation rates for vascular compromise, time to reoperation, and flap salvage.

A total of 769 free flaps met inclusion criteria for analysis. No significant differences in reoperation rates for vascular compromise were observed across academic quarters. While procedure duration trended longer in the first three quarters compared with the fourth, these differences were not statistically significant. Additionally, operative day did not impact reoperation rates, flap salvage, or time to reoperation. Flaps were predominantly indicated for head and neck reconstruction (74.4%) and had an overall flap loss rate of 3.0%.

We found no evidence of a "July Effect" in microvascular surgery or that operative day affects free flap outcomes. Institutional factors, such as structured flap monitoring, attending oversight, and advanced practice provider support, likely mitigate risks associated with trainee turnover and shift-based staffing fluctuations.