Transgender surgery - Knowledge gap among physicians impacting patient care

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Complications
• Transgender Health

Background:

• Gender-affirming surgeries are increasing globally, yet specialized care for complications is often fragmented.
• Many medical curricula lack essential training on transgender medicine, including surgical procedures and their potential complications.
• This educational gap leads to diagnostic and management challenges when non-specialized physicians encounter post-operative transgender patients.

Observation:

• A case is presented of a patient with an acute abdomen following complex gender-affirming surgeries.
• The patient's presentation created a diagnostic and management dilemma for the emergency department team.
• This highlights the need for broader physician understanding of transgender surgical care.

Findings:

• Inadequate training in transgender medicine results in suboptimal care for patients with surgical complications.
• Physicians outside specialized centers frequently lack the necessary knowledge to manage these complex cases.
• A case review underscores the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges encountered.

Implications:

• Integrating transgender medicine into medical education is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
• Continuing medical education and curriculum reform can equip physicians to manage gender-affirming surgery complications.
• Enhanced training can help reduce health disparities experienced by the transgender community.