Postoperative Complications and Patient-Reported Outcomes

Postoperative complications were associated with significantly worse patient-reported outcomes, including lower physical and mental health scores, higher pain interference and fatigue, and lower physical function. A substantial number of patients reported outcomes below national benchmarks, emphasizing the need for improved post-surgical care to enhance patients’ quality of life. This study highlights the critical impact of complications on various dimensions of health-related quality of life, indicating a crucial opportunity for quality improvement in surgical care.