A cadaveric procedural anatomy course enhances operative competence

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Anatomy Training
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• Inadequate surgical anatomy training contributes to decreased operative competence and confidence among surgical residents.
• Procedurally oriented cadaveric dissection courses offer a potential solution to enhance surgical skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a procedurally oriented general surgery cadaveric dissection course on resident operative confidence and competence.

Main Methods:

• Postgraduate year 2 and 3 general surgery residents were divided into an intervention group (n=7) participating in an 8-week cadaver course and a control group (n=7).
• Both groups were assessed at the beginning and end of the study using oral examinations with standardized templates and questionnaires on operative confidence.

Main Results:

• Residents in the cadaver course group showed significantly greater improvements in examination scores for common bile duct exploration, femoral endarterectomy, fasciotomies, inguinal hernia repair, and superior mesenteric artery embolectomy compared to controls.
• The intervention group also demonstrated significantly higher improvements in overall examination scores and reported increased operative confidence in specific procedures and a trend toward higher overall confidence.

Conclusions:

• A procedurally oriented cadaver course significantly enhances surgical residents' operative competence and self-reported confidence.
• This type of anatomy training is effective in improving skills across a range of essential general surgery procedures.