A statewide profile of general surgery trauma practice

This study profiles the practices, experience, and viewpoints of general surgeons treating trauma patients throughout a state. A mail survey of the American College of Surgeons State Chapter membership was conducted. Response rate of general surgeons was 65%. Typically, the trauma surgeon is between 30 and 50 years old, having received formal trauma experience through residency training only. Thirty-nine per cent report current ATLS certification. Practices are most commonly based at a community hospital in an urban setting. Half of surgeons treating trauma operate at more than one hospital and nearly a third take call at more than one hospital simultaneously. Eighty-seven per cent of respondents reported trauma patients comprise less than one quarter of their practice. Most (68%) admitted fewer than 25 trauma patients to their service in the year before the survey and 78% reported performing less than ten trauma laparotomies in the prior year. Fifty-eight per cent disagree that every general surgeon should routinely manage major trauma and 83% feel that traumatology entails a specific body of knowledge and expertise. Of the various components of trauma care, the role of the surgeon in trauma prevention and administrative duties was ranked at least important. The areas of surgeon availability, uniformity of basic experience and adequate maintenance of skills need further analysis.