Is Resident Training Safe in Cardiac Surgery?

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Surgical Education
• Patient Safety

Background:

• A knowledge gap exists regarding the safety of resident training in cardiac surgery.
• Evaluating trainee safety is crucial for maintaining high standards in complex procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish the safety of resident training in cardiac surgery.
• To compare patient outcomes between cardiac surgery trainees and experienced consultants.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of 5894 major cardiac operations (2013-2018) was conducted.
• Multivariate and propensity matching analyses were used to compare trainee and consultant cases.
• Outcomes analyzed included in-hospital mortality and a composite of adverse events.

Main Results:

• Trainee cases showed similar in-hospital mortality and composite outcomes compared to consultants.
• Longer bypass and cross-clamp times were observed in trainee cases for specific procedures (CABG, AVR).
• No significant differences were found in deep sternal infection, new dialysis, stroke, or reoperation rates.

Conclusions:

• Resident training in cardiac surgery is safe and does not compromise patient care quality.
• While procedural times may be longer, critical safety outcomes remain comparable.
• This study supports the continued integration of residents into cardiac surgical teams.