Surgeon Perceptions of Failure to Rescue After Surgery

How do surgeons make sense of failure to rescue (FTR), and what insights can lead to improvements in surgical education and culture?In this qualitative study of 14 surgeons, participants described FTR as arising from systemic constraints and a surgical “heroic ideal” that may delay recognition and effective rescue.These findings suggest that fostering humility, reducing hierarchical barriers, and increasing peer support may transform FTR from an individual’s hubris into collective growth.

Corresponding Author: Jennifer M. Klasen, MD, PhD, Department of Surgery, Clarunis University Digestive Health Care Centre Basel, Postfach, 4002 Basel, Switzerland (jennifer.klasen@clarunis.ch).

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