Increase in Cesarean Operative Time Following Institution of the 80-Hour Workweek

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In 2003, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education limited resident duty hours to 80 hours per week. More than a decade later, the effect of the limits on resident clinical competence is not fully understood. OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess the effect of duty hour restrictions on resident performance of an uncomplicated cesarean delivery. METHODS: We reviewed unlabored primary cesarean deliveries at Duke University Hospital after 34 weeks gestation, between 2003 and 2011. Descriptive statistics and linear regression were used to compare total operative time with incision to delivery time as a function of years since institution of the 80-hour workweek. Resident training level, subject body mass index, estimated blood loss, and skin closure method were controlled for in the regression model. RESULTS: We identified 444 deliveries that met study criteria. The mean (SD) total operative time in 2003-2004 was 43.3 (14.3) minutes and 59.6 (10.7) minutes in 2010-2011 (P