Major Studies Suggest Female Surgeons Yield Better Patient Outcomes

In two groundbreaking studies from Canada and Sweden, a remarkable revelation has emerged: Patients who undergo surgery led by female surgeons experience fewer complications and require less follow-up care than those under the care of their male counterparts. These findings raise important questions about surgical practices and imply that male surgeons may have valuable lessons to learn from their female colleagues.

The studies, which meticulously reviewed over one million patient records from separate medical registers, offer a compelling perspective on the influence of a surgeon’s gender on post-operative results.

Key Findings:

1. Improved Patient Outcomes: Patients treated by female surgeons exhibited significantly better post-operative outcomes and recovery in the months following their surgeries.
2. Deliberate Surgical Approach: The data imply that female surgeons tend to adopt a more methodical and patient-oriented approach in the operating room, which potentially contributes to their patients’ enhanced recovery.

Detailed Insights:

Canada: Dr. Christopher Wallis, leading one of the studies at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, conducted a comprehensive analysis of nearly 1.2 million patient records spanning from 2007 to 2019. The study encompassed 25 different surgical procedures involving the heart, brain, bones, organs, and blood vessels. The findings, reported in Jama Surgery, indicated that patients treated by male surgeons experienced a higher rate of adverse post-operative events within 90 days of the surgery compared to those treated by female surgeons.

Sweden: A parallel study conducted in Sweden by Dr. My Blohm and colleagues at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm corroborated these findings. Focusing on patient outcomes after gallbladder removal surgery, they observed that patients operated on by female surgeons experienced fewer complications and shorter hospital stays. Notably, female surgeons conducted surgeries at a deliberate pace and were less likely to switch from minimally invasive to open procedures during surgery.

While these findings are compelling, researchers urge caution in interpreting the results, emphasizing that they stem from observational studies. Factors such as surgical technique and risk-taking tendencies among surgeons may play a role in these differences.

Implications and Reflection:

The studies prompt introspection within the medical community, encouraging male surgeons to evaluate their surgical approaches and consider adopting practices that are often associated with their female colleagues. Dr. Wallis believes that there are valuable lessons to be learned and applied for the benefit of patients.

In addition to individual reflection, there is a call to attract more women to the field of surgery and to create an environment that supports their progression to influential positions within the profession. Addressing the issue of a “leaky pipeline,” where the number of women in senior surgical roles diminishes, is essential for the future of the profession.

In a thought-provoking editorial, Prof. Martin Almquist at Skåne University Hospital in Sweden suggests that the Navy Seal mantra, “slow is smooth, and smooth is fast,” holds true in the world of surgery.

While these findings add to the growing literature pointing to differences in patient outcomes between male and female surgeons, it’s crucial to recognize that association does not equate to causation. Factors such as case complexity may also influence these outcomes. As Tim Mitchell, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, notes, the era of the “lonesome cowboy” surgeon belongs to the past, and collaboration and learning from diverse experiences are key to advancing the field of surgery.