ABSTRACT

Although surgeons feel tired and unhappy in the outpatient clinic, they feel more comfortable in surgical processes. However, surgeons have an increased cardiac risk in the operating room due to increased heart rate during surgery and low heart rate variability associated with chronic stress caused by the surgical procedure.

While the mean heart rate in the outpatient clinic was 82.94 ± 6.80, it was 94.33 ± 4.29 in the operating room, and the difference was statistically significant (p <0.001). The parameters of heart rate variability NN (p=0.004), SDNN (p=0.015), rMSDD (p=0.012) were significantly lower in the operating room. In the outpatient clinic, the anxiety score was higher than the operating room and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.037).

A total of 18 physicians from surgical units working in intensive conditions were included in the study. Rhythm holter monitoring was performed to physicians in the outpatient clinic and operating room during the examination and surgical procedure. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was used as an anxiety scale. Data in the outpatient clinic and operating room environment were compared.

Considering the harsh working conditions and risks taken during the procedures together, medicine is a sacred profession. Therefore, we planned a study to evaluate the stress-related cardiac effects of surgeons in the outpatient clinic and operating room.