BACKGROUND: Little is known about the effect of surgical training on outcomes in thoracic surgery. The impact of surgeon training on outcomes following lung resection was examined, focusing on lobectomy as a marker operation. METHODS: 328 consecutive patients who underwent lobectomy at our institution between 1 October 2001 and 30 June 2003 were studied. Data were collected prospectively during the patient's admission as part of routine clinical practice and validated by a designated audit officer. Patient characteristics and postoperative outcomes were compared between trainee led and consultant led operations. RESULTS: In 115 cases (35.1%) the operation was performed by a trainee thoracic surgeon as the first operator. There were no significant differences in patient characteristics between the two groups. In-hospital mortality was similar for operations led by trainees and consultants (3.5% and 2.8%, respectively; p > 0.99). Outcomes in the two groups did not differ significantly with respect to respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, neurological, chest infection, bleeding, and gastrointestinal complications. Survival rates at 1 year were 82.6% for procedures led by trainees compared with 81.7% for procedures led by consultants (p = 0.83). CONCLUSIONS: With appropriate supervision, trainee thoracic surgeons can perform lobectomies safely without compromising short or intermediate term patient outcome.
BACKGROUND: Little is known about the effect of surgical training on outcomes in thoracic surgery. The impact of surgeon training on outcomes following lung resection was examined, focusing on lobectomy as a marker operation. METHODS: 328 consecutive patients who underwent lobectomy at our institution between 1 October 2001 and 30 June 2003 were studied. Data were collected prospectively during the patient's admission as part of routine clinical practice and validated by a designated audit officer. Patient characteristics and postoperative outcomes were compared between trainee led and consultant led operations. RESULTS: In 115 cases (35.1%) the operation was performed by a trainee thoracic surgeon as the first operator. There were no significant differences in patient characteristics between the two groups. In-hospital mortality was similar for operations led by trainees and consultants (3.5% and 2.8%, respectively; p > 0.99). Outcomes in the two groups did not differ significantly with respect to respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, neurological, chest infection, bleeding, and gastrointestinal complications. Survival rates at 1 year were 82.6% for procedures led by trainees compared with 81.7% for procedures led by consultants (p = 0.83). CONCLUSIONS: With appropriate supervision, trainee thoracic surgeons can perform lobectomies safely without compromising short or intermediate term patient outcome.
Authors: Serban C Stoica; Linda D Sharples; Ishtaq Ahmed; François Roques; Stephen R Large; Samer A M Nashef Journal: Eur J Cardiothorac Surg Date: 2002-01 Impact factor: 4.191
Authors: Paul S Ramphal; Daniel N Coore; Michael P Craven; Neil F Forbes; Somara M Newman; Adrian A Coye; Sherard G Little; Brian C Silvera Journal: Eur J Cardiothorac Surg Date: 2005-05 Impact factor: 4.191
Authors: Roger J F Baskett; Karen J Buth; Jean-Francois Legaré; Ansar Hassan; Camille Hancock Friesen; Gregory M Hirsch; David B Ross; John A Sullivan Journal: Ann Thorac Surg Date: 2002-10 Impact factor: 4.330
Authors: Sumana D M Handagala; Emmanuel Addae-Boateng; David Beggs; John P Duffy; Antonio E Martin-Ucar Journal: Eur J Cardiothorac Surg Date: 2012-01 Impact factor: 4.191