Scientists have shared that one particular day of the week comes with a significantly higher risk of death for patients post-surgery.
While it may seem like the timing of an operation shouldn’t matter as long as it’s performed by a skilled medical team, a recent study suggests otherwise.
According to researchers, having surgery on a Friday could increase the risk of complications and even death.
The study, which analyzed data from nearly 430,000 patients in Ontario, Canada, between 2007 and 2019, found that individuals who underwent surgery on a Friday had a 9% higher chance of death within 30 days post-operation, a 10% higher risk at 90 days and a 12% increased risk of death within a year.
Researchers believe this is due to what they call the "weekend effect" - where a lack of senior medical staff and reduced access to additional services like scans and tests over the weekend impact patient recovery.
Dr. Raj Satkunasivam of Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas, who led the study, explained: “Patients who underwent surgery immediately preceding the weekend had a significantly increased risk of complications, readmissions, and mortality compared with those treated after the weekend.
"It is important for health care systems to assess how this phenomenon may impact their practices to ensure that patients receive excellent care irrespective of the day,” he added.
Beyond the fact that there are fewer senior doctors on duty, the study also highlights another key factor contributing to the higher risk for Friday surgery patients - the lack of continuity in care.
Researchers noted: "Weekend teams may be less familiar with the patients than the weekday team previously managing care."
If a patient undergoes surgery on a Friday, the doctors and nurses overseeing their immediate recovery over the weekend may not be the same ones who initially managed their care.
This can lead to miscommunication, slower response times, and potential delays in treatment.
However, researchers noted that more data is needed before drawing definitive conclusions. “Further study is needed to understand differences in care that may underpin these observations and ensure that patients receive high-quality care regardless of the day of the week,” experts concluded.
For now, if you have the flexibility to schedule, it might be worth avoiding a Friday appointment - just to be on the safe side.