Training our future endocrine surgeons: a look at the endocrine surgery operative experience of U.S. surgical residents.
BACKGROUND
During the last 10 years, the number of endocrine procedures performed in the United States has increased significantly. We sought to determine whether this has translated into an increase in operative volume for general surgery and otolaryngology residents.


METHODS
We evaluated records from the Resident Statistic Summaries of the Residency Review Committee (RRC) for U.S. general surgery and otolaryngology residents for the years 2004-2008, specifically examining data on thyroidectomies and parathyroidectomies.


RESULTS
Between 2004 and 2008, the average endocrine case volume of U.S. general surgery and otolaryngology residents increased by approximately 15%, but otolaryngology residents performed more than twice as many operations as U.S. general surgery residents. The growth in case volume was mostly from increases in the number of thyroidectomies performed by U.S. general surgery and otolaryngology residents (17.9 to 21.8, P = .007 and 46.5 to 54.4, P = .04). Overall, otolaryngology residents also performed more parathyroidectomies than their general surgery counterparts (11.6 vs 8.8, P = .007).


CONCLUSIONS
Although there has been an increase in the number of endocrine cases performed by graduating U.S. general surgery residents, this is significantly smaller than that of otolaryngology residents. To remain competitive, general surgery residents wishing to practice endocrine surgery may need to pursue additional fellowship training.
Section of Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53792-7375, USA.
Barbara
B
Zarebczan
Robert
R
McDonald
Victoria
V
Rajamanickam
Glen
G
Leverson
Herbert
H
Chen
Rebecca S
RS
Sippel
D013507:Endocrine Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010038:Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D010279:Parathyroid Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D016105:Parathyroidectomy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013043:Specialties, Surgical / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology