Understanding the Operative Experience of the Practicing Pediatric Surgeon: Implications for Training and Maintaining...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Surgical Education
• Healthcare Workforce Analysis

Background:

• The number of pediatric surgeons has grown, but the incidence of rare pediatric surgical diseases remains low.
• Maintaining surgical competency in rare procedures is crucial for the future of pediatric surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the demographic characteristics and operative experiences of pediatric surgeons.
• To assess the case volumes and procedural experience of surgeons seeking recertification.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of Pediatric Surgery Board recertification applications from 2009-2013.
• Analysis of case log data to determine procedure volume and surgeon experience.
• Categorization of surgeons based on recertification intervals (10, 20, 30 years).

Main Results:

• Most pediatric surgeons practice in urban areas and are clinically active.
• Common procedures include appendectomy, nonoperative trauma management, and inguinal hernia repair.
• Experience with rare pediatric surgery cases is limited, with a mean of less than 2 procedures for 6 out of 10 rare cases.
• Laparoscopic techniques are more prevalent in surgeons with shorter recertification intervals.

Conclusions:

• Practicing pediatric surgeons have limited exposure to rare index cases post-training.
• The findings raise concerns about maintaining competency in essential pediatric surgical procedures.
• Ensuring continued proficiency in rare pediatric surgeries is vital for patient outcomes.