Training in pediatric surgical critical care

The purpose of this review is to describe education, training, certification of fellows in pediatric surgical critical care (PSCC). PSCC is a small but unique specialty within surgery. Education curricula focus on pediatric intensive care, neonatal intensive care, surgical intensive care, and pediatric surgical acute care. Attention is focused on the current state of SCC certification via the American Board of Surgery and future possibilities that could be implemented.

Because of the uniqueness of the specialty, the little literature that exists focuses on fellow experience including carrier plans, curricula at different programs and how the training is used in practice. There has been debate over the need for the development of a unified process to train, test, and certify critical care physicians of all programs. This could lead to a common 'test' that serves as the basis for critical care medicine certification from the myriad of American Medical Specialty Boards.

Training in PSCC offers surgeons a unique skill set to treat the most critically ill and injured children in our society. These surgeons can make large contributions to children's hospitals and to adult trauma centers that take care of injured children.