- Design
- Anonymous national electronic survey
- Population
- 1,725 US anaesthesiologists
- Primary outcome
- Experience, sequelae and support after perioperative catastrophes
- Effect
- 94.2% involved; 61.5% felt impaired at 24 h; 19.7% never fully recovered
A 2025 survey of 1,725 US anaesthesiologists repeated a landmark 2012 questionnaire on perioperative catastrophes. 94.2% had been involved in at least one during their career.
After a memorable event, 72.5% reported physical and 91.6% psychological symptoms. Most felt less able to provide safe care in the next 4 hours (69.0%) and 24 hours (61.5%). One in five (19.7%) said they never fully recovered emotionally — the same as in 2012 — and nearly a quarter considered leaving the specialty. Informal peer support was common, but formal debriefing and protected time off were rarely offered.
The response rate was low (7.1%), so the figures may overstate the problem. But the finding that most felt impaired for the rest of the day is a patient safety issue as much as a wellbeing one. Departments can act on it without new evidence: plan who takes over, and offer a structured, non-punitive debrief.
- Plan in advance who can take over a list so relief after a catastrophe is possible
- Hold a structured, non-punitive debrief within days
- Set up a named peer-support contact in every department
- Check in again at one week and one month, not just on the day
- Make it normal to ask for time off without it counting against the person
Why it matters
Most anaesthetists felt impaired for hours after a catastrophe, yet many keep working through the list.
Don't overread it
A voluntary survey with a low response rate; it describes experience, not tested interventions.
The statistics, in plain English
A 7.1% response rate means those most affected may have been more likely to answer, so percentages could be inflated. The similarity to 2012 suggests little has changed.
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