[The number of cardiovascular surgeons is decreasing in Nagano].

Shortage of medical doctors has been conspicuous since the residency program has been changed in 2004. We investigated the changes in the number of cardiovascular surgeons, surgical cases and institutes of Nagano from 1996 to 2008. The number of cardiovascular surgeons decreased from 28 to 19. The number of newly joined cardiovascular surgeons were 2.7 +/- 1.4/year from 1996 to 2001 and 1.1 +/- 0.4/year from 2002 to 2008. The number of retirement were 0.7 +/- 0.8/year and 2.3 +/- 1.0/year from 1996 to 2001 and from 2002 to 2008, respectively. The number of surgery cases increased from 340 in 1996 to 771 in 2008. Kaplan-Mayer analysis showed the 50% of cardiovascular surgeons retired in 19 years of their career, and the only 20% of surgeons survived after 29 years. The number of newly joined general surgeons was the only 3 since 2004. We are consolidating the institutes of cardiovascular surgery in Nagano to perform more surgery by fewer surgeons. It is important that working condition of cardiovascular surgeon adapt to young doctor's favor, and new positions should be created for elder cardiovascular surgeons to prevent early retirement.