Intraoperative Autonomic Physiology in Surgeons: Real-time Cardiac Reactivity Study

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.