Proctologic surgery done by residents - Complications preprogrammed?

INTRODUCTION: In current literature, the participation of residents in surgical procedures is discussed as a negative outcome factor, particularly due to an increase of postoperative complications. This study investigated whether minor proctologic surgery with resident participation has a higher rate of postoperative complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients who underwent an elective Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy or a resection of pilonidal sinus with rotational flap closure between January 2007 and December 2013 where included in a retrospective database. Primary outcome measure was postoperative complications rate with and without resident participation. RESULTS: Forty-two (6 females: 36 males) patients underwent resection of pilonidal sinus and 61 (17 females: 44 males) patients received a hemorrhoidectomy. Twenty-two patients with pilonidal sinus and 26 patients with hemorrhoids were operated by residents. There were no differences in patient demographics. Residents need significantly more time to perform a pilonidal sinus resection (54min vs. 34.5min; P = 0.004). For hemorrhoidectomy, there were no significant differences in operative time (24min vs. 23.5min; P = 0.656). There were no significant differences in the resident and the consultant group, neither in hemorrhoidectomy nor in pilonidal sinus resection regarding readmission or outpatient visits. In the group of patients with pilonidal sinus resections, 3 patients developed a recurrence, leading to a recurrence rate of 7.1% without significant differences between the two groups (0 vs. 3; P = 0.09). CONCLUSION: The participation of residents in proctologic procedures is not associated with higher postoperative complication rates. Residents should be exposed to proctology procedures on a regular basis, even though the operative time will be prolonged.

Outpatient surgical procedures: which is the ideal teaching procedure for a resident surgeon?

AIM: The aim of our study is to evaluate which surgical procedures can be considered the ideal teaching procedure for a resident surgeon. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study. A chart review was performed on all patients who underwent inguinal hernia repair, saphenectomy, excision of pilonidal sinus and hemorrhoidectomy at our institution, between September 2000 and July 2011, and have at least 1 year of follow-up. We evaluated operative time and complications comparing the results obtained by resident or attending surgeon. RESULTS: We obtained a higher operative time among the procedures performed by resident surgeons for all evaluated interventions. Whereas the occurrence of complications after hernia repair and excision and primary closure of pilonidal sinus were similar in case and control subjects (p = 0,1 and p = 0,1), the occurrence of complications after hemorrhoidectomy and saphenectomy was significantly higher in the case group (p = 0,08 and p = 0,1). CONCLUSION: Hernia repair and excision and primary closure of pilonidal sinus have to be considered the ideal teaching procedure in a residency program, giving to the young surgeon the opportunity of reach several skills that he needs to master most difficult surgical procedures. Saphenectomy and hemorrhoidectomy should be considered safe only if performed by a senior resident surgeon.