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The Impact of Complications and Pain on Patient Satisfaction

  • The predicted probability of being highly satisfied after surgery was 79% for patients who had no complications and 88% for patients who had no pain.
  • Patients who experienced postoperative complications and pain were less likely to be highly satisfied or have no regret.
  • Notably, postoperative pain has a more significant effect on satisfaction and regret after surgery, suggesting focused postsurgical pain management is an opportunity to substantially improve patient experiences.


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Berkowitz R, Vu J, Brummett C, Waljee J, Englesbe M, Howard R. The Impact of Complications and Pain on Patient Satisfaction. Annals of Surgery. Published online 1 June 2021. DOI: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000003621