Does overlapping surgery result in worse surgical outcomes? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The practice of overlapping surgery impacts patients, providers, and policy-makers. While several studies have examined the relationship between overlapping surgery and clinical outcomes, a combined analysis of all available data has not been performed. We aimed to evaluate the impact of overlapping surgery on 30-day mortality, morbidity, and length of surgery.

Methods: A systematic literature review revealed all relevant studies examining outcomes of overlapping versus non-overlapping surgery as of March 2018. A pooled meta-analysis with stratification by study quality grade was performed, and heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed.

Results: A total of 14 sets of analyses met inclusion and exclusion criteria. Meta-analysis revealed no significant differences in 30-day mortality (OR = 0.84; p = 0.277) or overall morbidity (OR = 0.96; p = 0.632) between patients who underwent overlapping versus non-overlapping surgery. The standardized mean difference for length of surgery between the groups indicated a small statistically significant increase in length of surgery for the overlapping surgery group (SMD = 0.079, p < 0.05).

Conclusion: While further study is warranted, current literature suggests that overlapping surgery is not associated with increased risk of mortality or morbidity.