Results of a new study may give surgeons a reason to think twice about performing multiple procedures in a single surgery. According to findings published in JAMA Surgery, long surgeries carry a higher risk that patients will develop post-op blood clots. The study, which examined more than 1.4 million surgeries at 315 different hospitals, found that each additional hour of surgery resulted in an 18 to 26 percent increase in the risk of developing blood clots. 

Researchers, surprisingly, found the increased risk of post-op blood clots was not linked to any particular type of surgery. The correlation between longer surgeries and clot risk was consistent regardless of the type of procedure or surgical setting where the surgery was performed. 

Based on the study’s findings, senior author Dr. John Kim, an associate professor of surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School Medicine, advises surgeons “If you know longer surgeries have a higher risk, depending on the variables, splitting up those surgeries may be the best option.” 

To learn more read the entire article.

Image Credit: Chris Yarzab