[Advanced training of general and visceral surgeons in life-saving emergency surgery : Results of a survey among participants of a surgery course].

BACKGROUND Due to a decreasing number of emergency procedures for body cavity injuries, surgical training is inadequate and current educational concepts must be reconsidered. The German Society for General and Visceral Surgery has set up a surgical training course in 2014 to overcome this shortage. In order to assess the eligibility, needs, benefits and success of such a training format, participants were asked to evaluate the program. MATERIAL AND METHODS All participants evaluated the course during participation and were later asked to answer an online survey regarding their age, gender, level of surgical education, surgical discipline, level of care of the hospital, emergency surgical experience and frequency of performing emergency surgery, participation in other programs, experiences after participating in the course, rating of the current training curriculum and funding of such courses. RESULTS Out of 142 participants 83 replied to the online survey. Over 90% reported a lasting positive influence of the course on emergency surgical skills. More than half of the responders remembered a clinical situation which they successfully managed due to the skills they gained during the course. Surgeons experienced in emergency treatment felt significantly more benefit than less experienced colleagues. A consultancy position, the level of care of the hospital, age and sex of the participants did not influence the overall benefits reported. The majority of responding surgeons were in favor of including such a training course in surgical education and stipulated public financial support. CONCLUSION Course formats that mediate emergency surgery strategies and skills are established and well accepted. Training of surgeons in life-saving emergency surgery is in the public interest and is also partly the responsibility of society.