Emergency Endoscopy and the Importance of Endoscopy Training in General Surgery Residency: A Survey-Based Study

BACKGROUND Emergency endoscopy is a life-saving technique of great significance. The aim of our study was to draw attention to endoscopy training activities of general surgeons and their opinions on this issue. MATERIAL AND METHODS We asked general surgery specialists where they received their general surgery training, the institution where they currently worked, how many years they had been practicing, if they had endoscopy training during or after residency, if a gastroenterologist was available in their hospital, and whether they used endoscopy. We also asked some questions, including 'Should general surgeons perform emergency or elective endoscopy?', 'Is endoscopy training required in general surgery', and 'What is your opinion regarding this issue?', and we assessed the answers. RESULTS Of the 138 general surgeons undertaking surveys, 63% of participants received their general surgery training in university hospitals and 37% in training and research hospitals. The duration of practicing as a general surgeon was 5 years for 23.9%, 5-15 years for 38.4%, 15-20 years for 20.3%, and over 20 years for 17.4% of participants. The rate of receiving endoscopy training at residency was 51.4%, 25.4% did not have endoscopy training, and 23.2% had postgraduate training. All participants replied affirmatively to the question 'Should general surgeons perform emergency or elective endoscopy?'. CONCLUSIONS Although endoscopy has been widely used recently, gastroenterologists are not available in every hospital. Consequently, it is evident that endoscopy should be part of general surgery training.