Surgical Training during the Covid-19 Pandemic at a Designated "Cold" Site: Are We Meeting the Challenge?

ABSTRACT

Aim: There has been a marked reduction in surgical operative training opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic. This may be improved by the establishment of "cold" sites for NHS elective surgery. We investigated the training opportunities at a newly designated elective surgery cold site in the West Midlands, UK. Method(s) An observational retrospective study was undertaken to include all gastrointestinal and urological elective surgery at a single "cold" site during the first peak of the pandemic. Patient demographics, details of surgery, and data relating to surgical training such as primary surgeon and portfolio index procedure were collected. Factors affecting the likelihood of trainees being the primary surgeon were analysed using logistic regression models. Result(s) There were 880 patients, with a median age of 62 (IQR 48-74). 658 (74.8%) procedures were defined as "index procedures" for ST4 level (409/509 (80.4%) for Urology;155/235 (66%) for Colorectal;and 94/136 (69.1%) for Upper GI). Only 253/880 (28.8%) procedures were performed by a trainee as the primary surgeon (201/509 (39.4%) for Urology;21/235 (8.9%) for Colorectal;and 31/136 (22.8%) for Upper GI). The likelihood of a trainee being the primary surgeon was reduced for major surgery (P < 0.001) and for gastrointestinal surgery when compared to urology (P < 0.001). Conclusion(s) Surgical training was facilitated at an elective surgery "cold" site during the COVID-19 pandemic, but at lower levels than anticipated. Type of surgery influenced trainee participation. Surgical training should be incorporated into "cold" site elective surgical services if trainees are to be prepared for the future.