0 + 5 Vascular Surgery Residents' Operative Experience in General Surgery: An Analysis of Operative Logs from 12 Integrated Programs

Brigitte K. Smith, P. Chulhi Kang, Chris McAninch, Glen Leverson, Sarah Sullivan, Erica L. Mitchell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective Integrated (0 + 5) vascular surgery (VS) residency programs must include 24 months of training in core general surgery. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education currently does not require specific case numbers in general surgery for 0 + 5 trainees; however, program directors have structured this time to optimize operative experience. The aim of this study is to determine the case volume and type of cases that VS residents are exposed to during their core surgery training. Design Accreditation council for graduate medical education operative logs for current 0 + 5 VS residents were obtained and retrospectively reviewed to determine general surgery case volume and distribution between open and laparoscopic cases performed. Standard statistical methods were applied. Setting A total of 12 integrated VS residency programs provided operative case logs for current residents. Participants A total of 41 integrated VS residents in clinical years 2 through 5. Results During the postgraduate year-1 training year, residents participated in significantly more open than laparoscopic general surgery cases (p < 0.0001). This difference was consistent over the first 3 years of training. The most frequently logged open general surgery cases are hernia repair (20%), skin and soft tissue (7.4%), and breast (6.3%). Residents in programs with core surgery over 3 years participated in significantly more general surgery operations compared with residents in programs with core surgery spread out over 4 years (p = 0.035). Conclusions 0 + 5 VS residents perform significantly more open operations than laparoscopic operations during their core surgery training. The majority of these operations are minor, nonabdominal procedures. The 0 + 5 VS residency program general surgery operative training requirements should be reevaluated and case minimums defined. The general surgery training component of 0 + 5 VS residencies may need to be restructured to meet the needs of current and future trainees.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)536-541
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Surgical Education
Volume73
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2016

Keywords

  • operative experience
  • resident education
  • subspecialty training
  • technical competence
  • vascular surgery

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Education

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of '0 + 5 Vascular Surgery Residents' Operative Experience in General Surgery: An Analysis of Operative Logs from 12 Integrated Programs'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this