title: Lessons learned from Dutch deployed surgeons and anesthesiologists to Afghanistan: 2006-2010.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Care for battle casualties demands special skills from surgeons and anesthesiologists. The experiences of Dutch military surgeons and anesthesiologists that deployed to South Afghanistan provided an opportunity to evaluate predeployment training and preparation of military medical specialists.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was conducted among all surgeons and anesthesiologists (n = 40) that deployed to South Afghanistan between February 2006 and November 2010. They were asked about their medical preparedness, deployment experience, and postdeployment impact.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most (35/40) participants reported high levels of preparedness before their deployment. All (40/40) surgeons and anesthesiologists described a positive influence of their deployment on their professional skills and 33/40 described a positive effect on their personal development. Knowledge of maxillofacial, ophthalmic, neurological, urological, gynecological, vascular, and thoracic surgery scored below average. Impact on mental health and social support network was reported as negative by 11/40 participants, 24/40 reported a neutral, and 5/40 a positive effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A standardized predeployment training program to prepare Dutch surgeons and anesthesiologists for combat surgery is currently lacking. These results emphasize the need for a standardized predeployment medical training, despite high levels of perceived preparedness. Also, the high mental and psychological impact on the deployed surgeons and anesthesiologists warrants further assessment.
authors.affiliation: Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoencamp
authors.affiliation: Medical Centre Haaglanden, Lijnbaan 32, 2512 VA The Hague, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Floris
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Idenburg
authors.affiliation: Military Mental Health Research, Lundlaan 1, 3584 EZ Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vermetten
authors.affiliation: University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3585 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leenen
authors.affiliation: Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jaap
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hamming
mesh_terms: D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D000776:Anesthesiology; D002983:Clinical Competence; D006801:Humans; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel; D009426:Netherlands; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D066231:Surgeons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000601:surgery*