Introduction

Restricted duty hours and the growing use of minimally invasive techniques, is limiting the open surgical experience for general surgery (GS) residents. Multiorgan procurement (MP) is an excellent opportunity for residents to learn open surgical skills. This study was conducted to assess the impact of MP on GS resident education.

Methods

GS residents performed MPs supervised by transplant surgeons. They were evaluated with a 30-question test designed to evaluate their knowledge in a pre-and post-test format. Their operative performance was evaluated by the surgeons with a modified objective structured assessment of surgical skills (OSATS).

Results

39 GS residents (21 M, 18 F) with a mean age of 29 (±2.46) years performed 86 MPs over a 2 year period. Significant improvement in the written test scores after participation in MPs (63.3 vs. 76.7, p<0.0001) was noted. Factors associated with better operative scores include: female (F vs. M, 30.8 vs. 26.5, p=0.0018), prior donor (PD) experience (PD N vs. Y, 27.4 vs. 30.8, p=0.04). PGY status (PGY 2 vs. 3, p= 0.60; PGY 2 vs. 4, p= 0.08; PGY 3 vs 4, p= 0.16), age (p=0.39), amount of donors (1 Donor vs 2, p= 0.41; 1 Donor vs. 3+, p= 0.68; 2 Donors vs. 3+, p= 0.26) did not impact operative scores. In a multivariate analysis residents that were female (F vs. M, 16.1 vs. 14.9, p=0.038), or had PD experience (PD N vs. Y, 12.2 vs. 18.74, p=0.0007) did significantly better. There was a trend towards improvement in the residents performance of specific steps of MPs (medial visceral rotation, infrarenal, supraceliac aortic dissection, and portal dissection), as well as general surgical skills (instrument handling, respect for tissue, plane identification, and time and motion) with increasing number of MPs .

Conclusions

Participation in MP improves GS resident's knowledge of complex abdominal anatomy and possibly their surgical skills. This can be applied to a wide range of open surgical procedures and help improve their educational experience.

CITATION INFORMATION: Bayer J, Goldstein R, McKenna G, Testa G, Ruiz R, Anthony T, Onaca N, Klintmalm G, Kim P. Multiorgan Procurement a Learning Tool in General Surgical Resident Education. Am J Transplant. 2016;16 (suppl 3).

« Back to 2016 American Transplant Congress