Surgical resident perspective on deceased donor organ procurement

Deceased donor organ procurement provides unparalleled opportunity for surgical residents with extensive surgical exposure. We hypothesize that surgical residents regard organ donation positively and organ procurement enhances their education.

We conducted an institutional review board approved anonymous national survey to evaluate organ procurement experiences and attitudes of general surgical residents.

Three hundred ninety-seven residents representing all postgraduate years responded, with 97% completion rate. Organ procurement increased with training level (92% seniors vs. 53% interns). Over 85% agree organ procurement is a good educational and operative experience, and 73% believe that it will benefit their future surgical career. About 68% agree that organ procurement provided knowledge of anatomy and exposures; under 10% felt organ procurement could be duplicated with simulation. Presence of transplant program did not affect attitudes or experience. Eighty-eight percent women versus77% men plan to donate their own organs.

Results indicate that surgical residents value organ procurement, and it remains an essential encounter that applies to general surgery.