title: Operative experience of general surgeons in a rural hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a lack of published data on the range of procedures currently carried out by rural general surgeons. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the diversity of conditions encountered and managed by rural general surgeons, in order to determine the scope of training necessary to adequately equip trainees for rural practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  An audit of surgical procedures completed by two surgeons over 5 years from June 2004 to June 2009 in a rural Victorian hospital was carried out. Operations were further categorized into specialty groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 8336 operations were completed over 5 years, by two surgeons servicing a catchment population of 54 000 people. Traditional general surgical procedures accounted for 44.3% with endoscopies accounting for a further 27.4% of cases. The remainder was accounted for by 11.8% orthopaedics, 4.5% urology, 4.4% vascular (including pacemaker insertion), 3.4% ear, nose and throat, 2.7% neurosurgery, 0.88% obstetrics and 0.42% thoracics. There was a need to be able to perform procedures well outside the field of traditional general surgery, including multisystem trauma, vascular emergencies, caesarean sections and post-partum hysterectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  General surgeons servicing small rural communities are required to carry out a variety of procedures outside the realms of traditional general surgery. Trainees need to acquire a broad skill base, and should be competent managing surgical emergencies across all specialties. A supportive team of medical, nursing and paramedical staff are required for achieving the best outcome for patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Wimmera Base Hospital, Horsham, Victoria, Australia. nicole.campbell@mh.org.au
authors.forename: Nicole A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kitchen
authors.forename: Ian A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D013502:General Surgery / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006780:Hospitals, Rural / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014739:Victoria