Limited English proficiency is not consistently associated with postoperative complications

Narrative synthesis #

Of the review's 5 postoperative-complications studies, only 1 found a significant association — higher odds of complications after neuro-oncologic surgery specifically in patients with non–Spanish-speaking LEP. The review places complications among the clinical outcomes less frequently associated with LEP. Certainty/GRADE appraisal is left for expert review.

"Five studies assessed postoperative complications, including wound infection, adverse graft event, major adverse cardiac events, major morbidities based on the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program risk calculator criteria, and general short-term postoperative complications. Only 1 included study observed a significant association between LEP and complications. This study found higher odds of developing complications after neuro-oncologic surgery in patients with non–Spanish-speaking LEP compared with English-proficient patients." (Joo, 2023, p. 8)

Reviewer note (probable-merge): overlaps with the existing corpus CLM "Interpreter need (language discordance) is not significantly associated with postoperative complication rates" (Kunze/Kyle 2023 single-study, TSA). Human should decide whether to merge or keep the review-level generalization distinct.