Is carotid endarterectomy a trainee operation?

Lutz, Hans-Joachim; Michael, R; Gahl, Brigitta; Savolainen, Hannu O. (2009). Is carotid endarterectomy a trainee operation? World journal of surgery, 33(2), pp. 242-5. New York, N.Y.: Springer 10.1007/s00268-008-9822-3

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BACKGROUND: Recent dramatic changes in surgical training resulting from working-hour regulations may lead to lack of competence. Traditionally, carotid surgery has been the domain of specialists. This study was designed to compare the outcome of carotid endarterectomy performed by vascular surgical trainees versus vascular surgeon (VS). METHODS: A retrospective study of 1,379 consecutive patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy as the sole procedure under local or general anesthesia (from 1995-2004) was performed. All patients were admitted to the intensive care unit for 24 hours. Trainees performed 475 (34.5%) and vascular specialists performed 904 (65.5%) operations. RESULTS: Patient characteristics with regard to preoperative neurological status were similar. Trainees operated on 61.4% symptomatic patients and VS on 56.8% (P = 0.09). Shunt use did not differ (16% trainee vs. 17.8% VS). Clamping time and total operating time were longer among trainees (41.9 vs. 33.5 min, P < 0.001; and 121.2 vs. 101.8 min, P < 0.001, respectively). Postoperative stroke and death rates (3.2% vs. 3.1% and 0.4% vs. 0.9%, respectively) did not differ. Peripheral nerve complications were more common among trainees (12.2% vs. 6.5%; P < 0.0001); 99.6% of these nerve injuries had resolved at 3 months' follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Carotid endarterectomy can be performed safely by a trainee vascular surgeon when assisted and supervised by a specialist vascular surgeon.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Cardiovascular Disorders (DHGE) > Clinic of Heart Surgery

UniBE Contributor:

Gahl, Brigitta, Savolainen, Hannu Olavi

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

0364-2313

Publisher:

Springer

Language:

English

Submitter:

Factscience Import

Date Deposited:

04 Oct 2013 15:13

Last Modified:

27 Feb 2024 14:29

Publisher DOI:

10.1007/s00268-008-9822-3

PubMed ID:

19034569

Web of Science ID:

000264997700013

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/32064

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/32064 (FactScience: 196923)

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