Experienced surgical teams expect setbacks

BERGEN, Norway, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Experience, textbook knowledge and technical skills are crucial to a surgical team's ability to deal with operating room obstacles, researchers in Norway said.

Sindre Hoyland of the University of Stavanger said although surgery saves and improves lives -- 234 million major surgical procedures are conducted worldwide each year -- operations are also risky and serious complications occur in 3 percent to 17 percent of all procedures in industrialized countries, and 1 million people die every year during or after a surgical procedure.

Hoyland studied a surgical unit at Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, where he observed 27 operations during 60 hours to identify the practices of surgeons, nurses and physicians contributing to positive outcomes of surgical procedures.

"Flexible surgical units and operating teams represent a clear strength. The unit under study had extra operating rooms, extra personnel and extra equipment available. Through this flexibility, the unit could compensate for increased pressure or illness," Hoyland said in a statement.

"Surgeons and nurses also knew each other well. In my study, they were stationed at the surgical unit, and did not rotate between other units at the hospital and as a result, they became familiar with each other, the routines, and the equipment. This familiarity was reflected in for instance the organization, precision and efficient handling of instruments and equipment between nurse and surgeon.

"If disagreements occurred during an operation, there was always someone, typically an experienced individual, who can calm things down and reconcile the team. This creates a sense of security both within the team and between colleagues individually," Hoyland said.