A systematic review analyzing 2.3 million procedures from 72,000 surgeons reveals a U-shaped relationship between surgeon age and surgical complications. High-volume surgeons maintained stable outcomes up to age 70, while low-volume surgeons faced significant complications after age 55. Complex procedures showed more pronounced age effects compared to minimally invasive ones. The findings advocate for personalized evaluations rather than rigid age-based policies, underscoring the significance of surgical volume and ongoing education for surgeons.
Review by Mussa B, Defrancisco B and Petracco P in Am J Surg
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