Probabilistic Risk Assessment of Prophylactic Surgery Before Extended-Duration Spaceflight.

Discussion. The need for medical evacuation can be viewed as a potential risk for death in the context of a space mission where evacuation is not possible. Because of the higher pEVAC due to SBO and relatively small benefit in the reduction of pLOCL in the prophylactic surgery groups, this analysis does not support the prophylactic removal of appendix and/or gallbladder for spaceflight. Future advances in surgical or medical technique or mission medical capabilities may change these results. This work demonstrates the utility of PRA in providing quantitative answers to "what if" questions where limited information is available. PMID: 33339485 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Surgical Innovation - Category: Surgery Authors: Tags: Surg Innov Source Type: research