Surgeons and anaesthetists spend hours together in stressful, high-pressure environments.

But in a relationship that can sometimes be complicated by hierarchical dynamics, communication failures remain a leading cause of adverse events, including inadequate anticipation of anaesthetic requirements, limited participation in briefings and debriefings, and impaired communication under stress.

So, what strains the bonds in the operating theatre?

A survey of 76 surgeons across mainly university hospitals in Morocco explored their perceptions of potential relationship hurdles with their anaesthetist colleagues.