The role of surgical education is a very sensitive issue in spite of the obvious need and the obligation of doctors to pass on their knowledge and experience to the next generation. This study is very interesting as it assesses whether trainee participation, among other factors, influences operating room time in cochlear implant surgery. Retrospective in nature, the study reviewed the notes of 455 unilateral cochlear implantations. The average surgical time was found to be two hours and a half, whereas the average total operating time was found to be three hours and 10 minutes. The presence of trainees was associated with a significant difference in surgical time, although trainee involvement did not significantly increase total operating time. Surgeon identity was also a time determinant, whereas patient age, gender, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, and paediatric designation were not found to have any predictive role. Although interesting, the study’s major weakness was no assessment of the time or the exact role of the trainees involved in surgery. Nevertheless, training is an obligation and not an option if we want health systems to maintain high quality.
Does trainee participation in cochlear implant surgery affect operative times?
Reviewed by Thomas Nikolopoulos
Influence of trainee participation on operative times for adult and paediatric cochlear implantation.
CONTRIBUTOR
Thomas Nikolopoulos
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Athens, Greece.
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