Judgement Errors and Patient Outcomes in Surgery

Researchers examined the impact of judgement errors on surgical patient care using data from a single institution’s national surgery quality improvement program. They found that 18% of surgical patients who experienced morbidity or mortality had an error in judgement during their hospitalization. Patients with specific preoperative variables, such as hepatobiliary procedures, insulin dependent diabetes, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or infected wounds, were at increased risk for judgement errors. These errors adversely impacted the outcomes of surgical patients, highlighting the importance of preventing or mitigating errors and monitoring patients closely after an error in judgement.