Surgeons’ autonomic physiology, specifically their heart rate (interbeat intervals), varies intraoperatively. Attending surgeons exhibit higher heart rate reactivity during high-risk operations, while residents show lower reactivity during high-risk procedures relative to low-risk ones. Nurses respond similarly during both low-risk and high-risk operations; however, they are more reactive when the resident is operating. Attending surgeons’ physiological responses are well-calibrated to the demands of the operation, while residents and nurses’ responses are not as calibrated. These findings suggest that risk sensitivity is an adaptive response surgeons acquire.
Journal Article by Del Rosario K, West TV (…) Gogalniceanu P et 3 al. in Ann Surg
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