[German general and visceral surgery: positioning within the international scientific community].
BACKGROUND
Assessment of scientific performance is critical for selection committees and research funding. The present work evaluated the standing of German surgical research within the international community.


METHODS
A database analysis was performed in December 2009 using the ISI Web of Science.


RESULTS
The highest impact factor of surgical journals is currently 8.460 with a median impact of all journals of 1.369. Leading academic surgeons have an h-index of more than 60. German surgeons are within the top five leading researchers in the fields of surgery for esophageal and pancreatic cancer, thyroid, hernia, and liver/kidney transplantation. Among the 50 institutions with most publications on a particular topic, 4-5 German centers are mostly represented. The top positions are in total decisively occupied by leading universities in the USA.


CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of scientific parameters German surgical research can compete with leading international centers in certain fields, but should aim to increase the overall impact of research by publishing more in journals with above average impact factors.
Welsch
T
T
Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Transplantationschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, Heidelberg, Germany.
Wente
M N
MN
Dralle
H
H
Neuhaus
P
P
Schumpelick
V
V
Siewert
J R
JR
Büchler
M W
MW
D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D013502:General Surgery; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D055811:Journal Impact Factor; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D011643:Publishing; D012109:Research Support as Topic; D013043:Specialties, Surgical