Adaptive ageing surgeons.

Area of Science:

• Medicine
• Gerontology
• Surgical Workforce Studies

Background:

• The surgical workforce is aging, raising concerns about future supply, planning, and surgeon performance.
• Surgical practice demands significant physical and cognitive skills, some of which may decline with age.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the complex issue of aging and surgical performance.
• To promote discussion and explore strategies for successful aging in surgeons.
• To encourage adaptive practice and self-monitoring among aging surgeons.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and consensus building on age-related changes in surgical skills.
• Discussion of self-screening as a tool for insight into performance changes.
• Emphasis on holistic wellness and seeking professional support.

Main Results:

• Some evidence suggests age-related cognitive changes in surgeons and increased operative mortality for certain procedures performed by older surgeons.
• Great inter-individual variation exists in skill decline.
• Self-screening can enhance insight into age-related performance changes.

Conclusions:

• Guidance is needed for individualizing retirement timing and encouraging adaptive practice.
• Self-screening, focusing on cognition, mental, and physical wellness, is recommended.
• Acceptance of professional treatment and support is crucial for maintaining surgical competence.