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A Pilot Study of Surgical Trainee Participation in Humanitarian Surgeries
Julia Riccardi1, Vennila Padmanaban1, Frank T Padberg2
1Department of Surgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey.
The Journal of Surgical Research
|February 15, 2021
Summary
Surgical resident involvement in humanitarian missions did not increase operative times or complications. This study found no significant differences between attending-assistant and resident-assistant surgical cases in low- and middle-income countries.
Area of Science:
- Global Surgery
- Surgical Education
- Humanitarian Medicine
Background:
- General surgery resident participation impact on surgical outcomes is well-studied in the US.
- Surgical trainee involvement in international humanitarian care is increasing.
- Limited data exists on trainee impact in low- and middle-income settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the impact of surgical trainee involvement on operative case length.
- To assess the effect of trainee involvement on immediate postoperative complications.
- To analyze operations in low- and middle-income settings.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of humanitarian surgeries (2017-2019).
- Procedures included inguinal hernia repairs and total abdominal hysterectomies (TAHs).
- Cases compared attending-assistant (AA) vs. resident-assistant (RA) cohorts.
Main Results:
- 135 cases reviewed; 82% involved a resident assistant.
- No significant difference in case times between AA and RA cohorts.
- No significant increase in complication rates (Clavien-Dindo Grade I) with resident assistance.
Conclusions:
- Surgical trainee participation in humanitarian missions did not affect operative duration.
- Resident involvement did not adversely impact postoperative complication rates.
- Trainee involvement is feasible and safe in low- and middle-income surgical settings.
