A systematic review of sleep deprivation and technical skill in surgery

Abstract

Background: It is uncertain if sleep deprivation impacts sleepy surgeons' technical skills. Lapses in surgical performance could increase morbidity and mortality. This review concludes if sleep deprivation impacts on technical skill performance in simulated environments.

Objective: Primary: 1. To identify if sleep deprivation has an impact on technical skill proficiency in surgeons. Secondary: a. To identify if the level of surgical experience, quality of sleep, or quantity of sleep influences technical skill proficiency in sleep deprived surgeons.

Methods: The review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines utilising the databases Journals Ovid. Validation followed with two independent reviewers utilising an adapted version of BEME.

Results: Thirty-three heterogeneous studies were included. Sleep deprivation likely negatively impacts technical performance between 11.9 and 32% decrement in performance. No strong evidence exists with regards to influence of experience, sleep type, or sleep length on technical proficiency.

Conclusion: Sleepy surgeons' technical skills are, on balance, between 11.9 and 32% negatively impacted in a standardised simulated environment. This is likely to have clinical implications for patient safety.

Keywords: Error; Simulation; Sleep deprivation; Surgical performance; Technical skill.