Related Experiment Videos
Who is doing laparoscopic appendicectomies and who taught them?
H Noble1, P Gallagher, W B Campbell
1Department of Surgery, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Exeter, UK.
Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
|November 5, 2003
Summary
Laparoscopic appendicectomy use and teaching are variable among surgical trainees. Limited consultant experience and organizational factors hinder widespread adoption, despite trainee preference.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Education
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Gastrointestinal Surgery
Background:
- Laparoscopic appendicectomy offers benefits but its adoption is inconsistent.
- Training opportunities for laparoscopic appendicectomy are limited by emergency work organization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the current use and teaching of laparoscopic appendicectomy.
- To identify barriers to laparoscopic appendicectomy adoption in surgical training.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire survey was distributed to specialist registrars (SpRs) in general surgery across two health regions.
- The survey achieved a response rate of 78% (56 out of 72 SpRs).
Main Results:
- 43% of responding SpRs had performed laparoscopic appendicectomy, with most supervised by consultants.
- Only 31% of their supervising consultants had experience with laparoscopic appendicectomy.
- Laparoscopic appendicectomy was performed in 14% of SpRs' firms, with 5-30% of patients treated laparoscopically, often per SpR preference.
Conclusions:
- Dedicated consultant time for emergencies could improve laparoscopic appendicectomy teaching.
- Limitations include theatre time, disposable instrument costs, and consultant inexperience.
- Further discussion is required regarding the role of laparoscopic appendicectomy in appendicitis treatment.