IngentaConnect Should oesophagectomies be performed by trainees? The experience ...

Authors: Baron, Ryan¹; Sujendran, Vijay¹; Maynard, Nicholas¹

Source: Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England, Volume 90, Number 4, May 2008 , pp. 305-309(5)

Publisher: The Royal College of Surgeons of England

Abstract:

INTRODUCTION: Surgical training is threatened by anxieties about trainees performing major procedures. We have analysed the outcome of oesophagectomies performed by a consultant surgeon and compared these to the performance of trainees (years 4-6) operating under direct supervision.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively in a computerised database on all patients who underwent oesophagectomy at a teaching tertiary centre between December 1997 and April 2004 with a minimum 15 months' follow-up. Analysis of outcome was according to measures of technical adequacy, postoperative course, histological analysis, recurrence and survival.

RESULTS: During the study period, 241 oesophagectomies were carried out; 157 (65.1%) of these procedures were performed by the consultant and 84 (34.9%) were performed by surgeons-in-training under direct consultant supervision. Pre-operative, technical adequacy, postoperative course, histological analysis, recurrence and survival were comparable in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate comparable patient outcome when suitably experienced trainees are supervised in performing oesophagectomies and support its continued use in operative training.

Keywords: OESOPHAGUS; TRAINEE; SURGERY

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1308/003588408X285919

Affiliations: 1: Oxford OesophagoGastric Unit, The John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK

Should oesophagectomies be performed by trainees? - The experience from a single teaching centre under the supervision of one surgeon