Impact of a laparoscopic renal surgery mini-fellowship program on postgraduate urologist practice patterns at 3-year followup.
OBJECTIVE
To assist practicing urologists incorporate laparoscopic renal surgery into their practice we established a 5-day mini-fellowship program with a mentor, preceptor and a potential proctor at our institution. We report the impact of our mini-fellowship program at 3-year followup.


METHODS
A total of 106 urologists underwent laparoscopic ablative (44) or laparoscopic reconstructive (62) renal surgery training. The 1:2 teacher-to-attendee experience included tutorial sessions, hands-on inanimate and animate skills training, and clinical case observations. Participants were asked to complete a detailed questionnaire on laparoscopic practice patterns 1, 2 and 3 years after the mini-fellowship.


RESULTS
The questionnaire response rate at 1 to 3 years was 77%, 65% and 68%, respectively. Of responders 72%, 71% and 71% performed laparoscopic renal surgery at 1 to 3 years, respectively. Of the 106 participants 32 (39%) had previous laparoscopic experience, including 78% who responded to the questionnaire at 3 years. Of those surgeons there was an increase in the practice of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (88% vs 72%), nephroureterectomy (56% vs 13%), pyeloplasty (40% vs 6%) and partial nephrectomy (32% vs 6%) at 3 years. Of the 106 participants 74 (70%) were laparoscopy naïve, including 48 (65%) who responded to the questionnaire at 3 years. The take rate in this group was 76%, 52%, 34% and 23% for laparoscopic radical nephrectomy, nephroureterectomy, pyeloplasty and partial nephrectomy, respectively. Of the participants 90% indicated that they would recommend this training to a colleague.


CONCLUSIONS
An intensive 5-day laparoscopic ablative and reconstructive renal surgery course enabled postgraduate urologists to effectively introduce and expand the volume and breadth of their laparoscopic renal surgery practice.
Kolla
Surendra B
SB
Department of Urology, University of California-Irvine, Orange, California 92868, USA.
Gamboa
Aldrin J R
AJ
Li
Roger
R
Santos
Rosanne T
RT
Gan
Jennifer M
JM
Shell
Cynthia
C
Andrade
Lorena
L
Louie
Michael K
MK
Clayman
Ralph V
RV
McDougall
Elspeth M
EM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000601:surgery*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D013997:Time Factors; D014572:Urology / Q000193:education*