Could global surgery overcome a decline in surgical cases?

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Surgical Education
• Medical Training

Background:

• US surgical trainees face declining surgical case volumes and fewer open procedures due to distinct landmark events.
• Global surgery initiatives provide exposure to a wider range of surgical problems not commonly encountered in high-income countries (HICs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of global surgery experiences to mitigate the decline in surgical volume, variety, and open cases for trainees.
• To examine the academic, ethical, and economic implications of global surgery for surgical education.

Main Methods:

• This study reviews the impact of global surgery on surgical training.
• It proposes an exchange program where trainees from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) train in HICs, and vice versa.

Main Results:

• Global surgery offers trainees exposure to diverse surgical challenges and fosters empathic, collaborative approaches.
• It can potentially compensate for reduced case volumes and variety in HIC training settings.

Conclusions:

• Global surgery experiences are valuable for surgical trainees, offering benefits beyond routine case exposure.
• Reciprocal training programs between HICs and LMICs could enhance surgical education and address training deficits.