Surgical Catastrophe. Supporting the Gynecologic Surgeon after an Adverse Event

Abstract

Medical errors and adverse events (AEs) are unavoidable, and the effect of adverse outcomes on providers can be devastating. An intraoperative AE is often directly attributable to surgeon technical error or suboptimal intraoperative judgment. To prevent the potential devastating psychological consequences that cases with adverse outcome pose to surgeons involved, it is essential to provide adequate support to the individuals involved in cases with intraoperative AEs. Common reactions to AEs and individual and organizational strategies to support clinicians through the aftermath are reviewed. The goal of this commentary is to create awareness of the mental health impact and to describe options to help physicians involved in intraoperative AEs to recover from their experience related to bad surgical outcomes.

Keywords: Adverse outcome; Physician burnout; Second victim.