The surgeon's 'gut feeling' as a predictor of post-operative outcome

The aim of this study was to identify the accuracy of prediction of the 'gut feeling' of the surgeon immediately upon completion of an operation in the prediction of subsequent outcome. A consecutive series of 120 patients, each of whom underwent gastrointestinal surgery, were studied. The two operating surgeons scored each patient on a scale of 1-3 which related to his expectations of the outcome. This prediction was compared with the prediction generated by the POSSUM scoring system. The surgeon's 'gut feeling' upon completion of a major procedure was a good indicator of the post-operative course of the patient.