Second victim syndrome in surgeons: systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of adverse events on surgeons - Takeaways - MDSpire

Second victim syndrome in surgeons: systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of adverse events on surgeons

  • By

  • James Bryan

  • Adele Ketley

  • Kate Cavanagh

  • Carly Bisset

  • Susan Moug

  • Lynda Wyld

  • Jenna Morgan

  • January 7, 2026

  • 0 min

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  • 1

    Second victim syndrome (SVS) affects surgeons psychologically after adverse events, leading to symptoms like anxiety, guilt, and sleep disturbances.

  • 2

    A systematic review identified 36 studies, revealing that 56.3% of surgeons experience anxiety as a common symptom of SVS.

  • 3

    Common coping strategies among surgeons include talking to colleagues (72.5%) and family/friends (52.0%) to manage SVS.

  • 4

    Factors such as the surgeon's sex, experience level, and event severity influence the impact of SVS on their well-being.

  • 5

    Effective interventions for SVS should include peer support, resilience training, and institutional changes to normalize emotional responses.

Original Source(s)

Second victim syndrome in surgeons: systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of adverse events on surgeons

  • by James Bryan, Adele Ketley, Kate Cavanagh, Carly Bisset, Susan Moug, Lynda Wyld, Jenna Morgan

  • January 7, 2026

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