When a Patient Dies During a Procedure: Navigating Operator Grief in Interventional Cardiology.

Abstract

Procedural mortality, though uncommon, remains a profound emotional challenge in interventional cardiology. The death of a patient during a procedure is not merely a technical outcome-it deeply affects the operator, triggering grief, self-doubt, and psychological trauma. This review explores the multifaceted emotional toll of intra-procedural death, examining how operator grief intersects with moral injury, burnout, and threats to professional identity. We identify cognitive and cultural barriers to recovery-such as outcome bias, replay loops, and compartmentalization-that impede emotional healing. The immediacy of procedural trauma, compounded by systemic silence and lack of institutional support, often prolongs distress and suppresses vulnerability. Importantly, we outline evidence-informed strategies for sustainable recovery at both individual and institutional levels. These include reflective practice, reconnecting with patient families, peer dialogue, structured debriefing, and culturally attuned support models. Redefining vulnerability as professionalism and embedding psychological safety within organizational culture are essential for meaningful reform. Recognizing and addressing operator grief is crucial not only for clinician well-being but also for preserving the empathy and decision-making clarity that underpin high-quality cardiovascular care.