Night Surgery Not a Factor in Transplant Mortality, JHU Study Finds

He said the new findings show the need for more outcomes research. Without specifically looking at the question of fatigue and medical errors in heart and lung transplants, the assumption would have been that these surgeries are less safe when done at night. "It's worth asking these questions rather than extrapolating the conclusions from other specialties," he said.

Heart and lung transplant teams could serve as a model for others, Shah said, and researchers may learn something from examining why they are so successful and using that knowledge to improve outcomes in other specialties.