The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, the UK's oldest medical professional body, has launched a new report focusing on dual consultant operating.
Dual Consultant operating (DCO) is an important feature of modern surgical practice, particularly in those procedures that require input from more than one surgical specialty.
It is also commonly used in high-risk, complex, or rarely performed procedures where experienced assistance reduces fatigue and cognitive load.
As the use of DCO differs between and within surgical specialties, the report aims to help surgeons decide when to use DCO and the various measures that need to be considered and implemented to optimise its effectiveness.
The lead author of the report, Professor Phil Turner, Vice President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh said:
"Dual Consultant Operating (DCO) is an increasingly common method of modern surgical practice that is particularly used in rarely performed and difficult procedures."
"In England for instance, DCO is employed in 40.5% of the most complex orthopaedic surgery and is also often used in aortic and cardiovascular surgery."
"Microsurgical breast reconstruction, revision hip and knee replacement surgery, spinal surgery and liver resections may also benefit from specialist input by more than one surgeon."
"A number of procedures are best conducted by an experienced surgical consultant in collaboration with a similarly experienced peer with specialist knowledge."
"Operating in this way offers a degree of peer-to-peer support which can, in turn, boost confidence, reduce cognitive load and help prevent fatigue during long procedures. Indeed, surveys of spinal surgery conducted in 2015 and 2024 showed that the presence of two senior surgeons reduced complications and the length of patient stay."
"Surgery is a collaborative profession, and patient outcomes are optimised when professionals from different surgical, medical, nursing, and allied health specialities work together."
"Therefore, we hope this report will help guide surgeons on when DCO should be used and what they need to consider in order to maximise its effect."