[Cardiothoracic surgery in perspective. An analysis required by other specialties?]

Area of Science:

• Cardiothoracic Surgery
• Surgical Workforce Analysis
• Public Health

Background:

• Cardiothoracic surgery is a relatively young specialty facing evolving challenges.
• Mexican life expectancy is 75.7 years, with ischemic heart disease and lung neoplasms as leading causes of mortality.
• Current workforce data and knowledge transfer mechanisms require evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current and future needs in cardiothoracic surgery.
• To analyze the profile, professional lifespan, and knowledge transmission of cardiothoracic surgeons.
• To propose ideal characteristics for future cardiothoracic surgeons.

Main Methods:

• Review of demographic data, mortality causes, and life expectancy in Mexico.
• Analysis of cardiothoracic surgeon training duration, age, and professional activity length.
• Assessment of current board-certified surgeon numbers and publication trends.

Main Results:

• A cardiothoracic surgeon requires 6 years of post-graduate training.
• The average age of practicing surgeons is 49.3 years, with an average of 16.7 years in practice.
• There are 220 board-certified cardiothoracic surgeons, with limited publication in medical journals.

Conclusions:

• Projected increases in patient numbers and complexity necessitate strategic planning for the cardiothoracic surgery workforce.
• Understanding current surgeon demographics and training pathways is crucial for addressing future care demands.
• Adapting training and recruitment strategies is essential to meet the growing needs of cardiothoracic surgery.