Decreasing Resident Vascular Case Volumes Have Not Changed National Numbers of Vascular Fellowship Applications in US General Surgery Residents Over the Past Twenty Years.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: With an aging workforce and high prevalence of vascular disease, the US is expected to face a pronounced shortage of vascular surgeons over the next 2 decades. This has driven initiatives to expand vascular surgery training positions leading to the rise of integrated residency programs (0 + 5) and the expansion of traditional fellowships (VSFs, 5 + 2). Given the increase in dedicated vascular surgery training positions, there has been a growing concern that general surgery residents (GSRs) are experiencing decreased vascular case volumes. We aim to evaluate trends in vascular surgery specialty choice relative to vascular case volumes for US GSRs over the last 20 years. DESIGN: Using the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Case Log Graduate Statistics National Report, a retrospective analysis of ACGME-accredited GSR vascular case volumes was performed from academic year 1999-2000 to 2021-2022. Fellowship data was retrospectively reviewed using the available National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Fellowship Match Data & Reports for 2004-2023. RESULTS: Graduating GSRs logged increasing numbers of major cases between AY 1999-2000 and AY 2021-2022 (p < 0.001) with 2022 graduates logging on average 98 more cases per resident compared to 2000 graduates. Mean total vascular cases decreased (p = 0.005) with 2022 graduates logging approximately 78 fewer vascular cases on average compared to the 2000 graduates, a 40% decrease in vascular case volume. Despite the decrease, US GSRs have applied to VSF at a relatively consistent rate 8.5% in 2001-2002, 8% in 2011-2012, and 6% in 2021-2022. 2023 demonstrated an increase to 8.3%. CONCLUSION: Over the past 2 decades, GSRs have experienced a substantial decrease in exposure to vascular surgery cases during their training; however, residents continue to apply for VSF at a relatively constant rate suggesting that interest in the specialty may be related to factors other than exposure to vascular cases.