Surgical OGD--a dying art?

Reductions in surgical training and the increases in medical gastroenterology have raised concerns that surgeons may not be adequately trained in upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy.

To evaluate this problem, a questionnaire was sent to all current surgical specialist registrars (SpRs) in the South Thames East Region.

There was an 82% (52/63) response rate. Only 50% (26/52) of trainees had received more than 6 months' training in upper GI endoscopy. 83% (43/52) were in posts which did not provide adequate elective exposure for training. 50% (26/52) were required to provide an emergency service, despite a paucity of experience and less than 50% were able to perform therapeutic injection. In the main, emergency endoscopy is performed with substandard equipment, poor facilities, and untrained staff.

Surgical trainees are poorly trained and do not have the necessary skills to provide an emergency service for upper GI haemorrhage. Emergency endoscopy facilities are severely under resourced.