Outcomes associated with resident involvement in ventral hernia repair: A population based study using the NSQIP...

This study evaluated the effect of resident involvement on patient outcomes following major ventral hernia repair (VHR).

National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried to identify patients with major VHR between 2007 and 2010. Patient outcomes were compared based on presence or absence of resident in the operating room.

Residents participated in 57% of the 27,773 identified cases. There was no significant difference in return to operating room or 30-day mortality. A higher incidence of superficial surgical site infection (SSI) (4.9% vs 3.9%, P = 0.013) and longer operative time (129.2 vs 99.1 min, P < 0.001) were observed with resident involvement in open inpatient cases. We found no evidence of a "July effect" on outcomes.

Resident involvement in VHR has little impact on morbidity, and patients can be reassured that resident participation in their care is safe.