Are Breast Cancer Outcomes Compromised by General Surgical Resident Participation in the Operation?

Trainees participation in breast cancer surgery: an assistance or a hinderance?

“…For operative parameters, early complication rates appeared to be similar between the trainees and consultants in studies involving breast conserving surgery and mastectomies (2,5). Operative times were however, reported to be longer for the trainees compared to the consultants (2,3,5,6), with the timings becoming shorter as the trainees progressed in their training (2). Despite the difference in operative timing between the trainees and the consultants, this timing difference did not seem to have a detrimental effect on patients' clinical outcomes.…”

“…In literature, various parameters had been compared between trainees and consultants. For operative parameters, early complication rates appeared to be similar between the trainees and consultants in studies involving breast conserving surgery and mastectomies (2,5). Operative times were however, reported to be longer for the trainees compared to the consultants (2,3,5,6), with the timings becoming shorter as the trainees progressed in their training (2).…”

“…As a result, the cosmetic outcome after breast conserving surgery, performed by the trainees or the consultants, should be assessed. So far, only a 30 days post operation early cosmetic outcome has been reported to be comparable in operations with or without residents' participation (5).…”

“…Another often studied oncologic parameter was local recurrence rates which had been reported to be similar, after a follow-up ranging from 3.6 to 5.5 years (5,9), for the breast oncologic surgeries performed by the trainees or consultants.…”

“…Most of the studies were of retrospective nature with small numbers. Also, the true extent of involvement and supervision of the trainees in the surgery were often not clearly defined in the studies (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). There were also major flaws in the design of some studies.…”