Surgery-related risk factors.
OBJECTIVE
The surgical procedure remains the key element in the multidisciplinary treatment of a wide variety of degenerative, traumatic, tumorous, congenital, and vascular diseases, resulting in an estimated 234 million surgical interventions worldwide each year. Undesired effects are inherent in any medical intervention, but are of particular interest in an invasive procedure for both the patient and the responsible physician. Major topics in current complication research include perception of key factors responsible for complication development, prediction, and whenever possible, prevention of complications.


RESULTS
For many years, the technical aspects of surgery and the skills of the surgeon her/himself were evaluated and considered as the main sources of surgical complications. However, recent studies identified many nontechnical perspectives, which could improve the overall quality of surgical interventions.


CONCLUSIONS
This article reviews selected, recently published data in this field and aims to point out the complexity and multidimensional facets of surgery-related risk factors.
Studer
Peter
P
Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Clinic for Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Bern, University of Bern, Bern CH-3010, Switzerland.
Inderbitzin
Daniel
D
D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D017751:Safety Management; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects*