Surgical complications profoundly impact surgeons emotionally, physically, and socially, necessitating comprehensive wellness programs, peer support, and mindfulness training to mitigate burnout.
Surgical complications have profound emotional, physical, and professional impacts on surgeons, highlighting the need for comprehensive wellness programs and institutional support.
Complications are plausible events during surgical operations. Surgical complications profoundly impact surgeons, often called "second victims" of adverse events. These complications trigger a range of emotional and psychological responses, including guilt, anxiety, heightened empathy, and the looming threat of burnout. Moreover, the toll extends to physical health, with chronic stress and sleep disturbances taking their toll. Surgeons' social lives are not immune to the fallout, and their career satisfaction may wane, pushing some towards defensive medicine practices. While mentorship, counselling, and peer support are crucial support mechanisms, they encounter barriers such as time constraints and the fear of negative perceptions. This paper suggests practical recommendations, including comprehensive wellness programmes, a streamlined badge card system for easy access to resources, and mindfulness training to mitigate stress and burnout. Recognising and proactively addressing these multifaceted impacts is imperative for cultivating a resilient medical community capable of providing optimal patient care.
Awuah et al. (Sat,) conducted a review in Second-victim phenomenon in surgeons following surgical complications. Surgical complications profoundly impact surgeons emotionally, physically, and socially, necessitating comprehensive wellness programs, peer support, and mindfulness training to mitigate burnout.