Association Between Intraoperative Anesthesia Handover and Patient Morbidity and Mortality: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

doi:10.1213/ane.0000000000008269

Association Between Intraoperative Anesthesia Handover and Patient Morbidity and Mortality: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Anesth AnalgPublished 24 Aug 2026Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies and randomised trials

Pooled result · Composite short-term postoperative morbidity and mortality (exploratory pooled analysis)ResultAdjusted odds ratio 1.04 95% CI 0.98–1.11

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Authors' conclusion

Current evidence does not support a consistent independent association between IAH and increased postoperative morbidity and mortality.

Study context

Population: Surgical patients
Participants: 170,746 vs 860,137

Comparison: IAH vs no IAH
IAHn = 170,746
No IAHn = 860,137reference
Outcome: Postoperative morbidity and mortality (narrative synthesis primary; exploratory pooled composite short-term postoperative morbidity and mortality)

Methodological detailsnarrative synthesis primary, exploratory random-effects meta-analysis, sensitivity analyses, Searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane to July 10, 2025, 12 retrospective cohort studies and 1 multicenter RCT

Narrative synthesis primary
Exploratory random-effects meta-analysis
Sensitivity analyses
Searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane to July 10, 2025
12 retrospective cohort studies and 1 multicenter RCT

Pooled result

As reported in the abstract

Composite:

Short-term postoperative morbidity
Mortality (exploratory pooled analysis)

Adjusted odds ratio

1.04

95% CI 0.98–1.11

P = 0.18

IAH vs No IAH

aOR 1.04 (95% CI 0.98–1.11); P = 0.18

Further pooled results

30-day mortality, readmission, postoperative complications (multicenter RCT)

No significant effect of IAH

Sensitivity analyses excluding the RCT, pediatric cohort, or thoracic surgery cohort

Similar nonsignificant findings

Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.

Original publication

Association Between Intraoperative Anesthesia Handover and Patient Morbidity and Mortality: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Anesth Analg. Published 24 August 2026. doi:10.1213/ane.0000000000008269

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