Colorectal operative experience. Results of a survey

This study was designed to document the operative colorectal experience of members and fellows of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.

A mail survey of 900 members and fellows of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons was conducted.

One hundred eighty questionnaires (20 percent) were returned; however, 25 respondents had retired or lacked accurate operative data. The remaining 155 surgeons averaged 49 (range, 35-83) years in age and had been in practice an average of 14.7 (range, 2-51) years. The respondents performed a median of 135 and a mean of 177 anorectal procedures per year (range, 20-1,471) and a median of 67 and a mean of 79 abdominal colorectal procedures (range, 6-443). Operative hemorrhoidectomy was the most common anorectal procedure (median, 25; mean, 47/year), while partial colectomy was the most common abdominal procedure (median, 18; mean, 26). The number of anorectal procedures correlated directly with the respondents' time in practice, and the number of abdominal procedures peaked between the tenth and fifteenth years.

Despite the limitations associated with this type of study, the information is useful in assessing practice patterns and experience level.