Vascular surgery training, exposure, and knowledge during general surgery residency: implications for the future

Boutros, John; Sekhon, Mypinder S.; Webber, Eric M.; Sidhu, Ravi S.

doi:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2007.02.006

« Previous Next »The American Journal of Surgery
Volume 193, Issue 5 , Pages 561-566, May 2007

Vascular surgery training, exposure, and knowledge during general surgery residency: implications for the future

Presented at the 93rd Annual Meeting of the North Pacific Surgical Association, Spokane, WA, November 10–11, 2006

John Boutros, M.D.
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine, 910 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4E3
Mypinder S. Sekhon, B.Sc.
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine, 910 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4E3
Eric M. Webber, M.D., F.R.C.S(C)
- Division of Paediatric General Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine, 910 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4E3
Ravi S. Sidhu, M.D., M.Ed., F.R.C.S(C)., F.A.C.S.
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine, 910 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4E3
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +1-604-806-8698; fax: +1-604-806-8666.

Received 18 August 2006; received in revised form 11 February 2007

Abstract

Background

Vascular surgery (VS) has been removed from the Canadian general surgery (GS) objectives and has become a primary certificate specialty in the United States, leaving its status in GS uncertain. The purpose of this study was to determine GS residents’ perceived competence in VS and to assess their knowledge of VS.

Methods

GS residents at a university-based program answered (1) a survey of attitudes and experience in VS and (2) a short-answer examination to assess fundamental vascular knowledge.

Results

Twenty-nine of 35 residents participated (83%). Residents reported being inadequately trained in 10 of 13 procedures surveyed despite 6 of these being reported as essential. Although 26 of 29 residents reported an intention to perform vascular procedures, none planned on pursuing a fellowship. The mean examination score was 47%.

Conclusions

Despite mandatory VS rotations, GS residents feel inadequately trained in VS and have marginal knowledge. Current trainees may lack the skills and abilities to deal with vascular emergencies.

Keywords: General surgery training, Postgraduate medical education, Vascular surgery training