From the Guidelines
Pediatric general surgery residency typically lasts for 5 years of general surgery training followed by a 2-year fellowship in pediatric surgery. This is based on the most recent and highest quality evidence available, as outlined in the study published in the journal Pediatrics in 2014 1. The initial 5-year general surgery residency provides comprehensive training in all aspects of general surgery, including adult and some pediatric cases.
Key Points
- During this time, residents gain progressive responsibility in patient care, surgical techniques, and medical decision-making.
- After completing general surgery residency and becoming board-eligible or board-certified in general surgery, physicians then enter a specialized 2-year pediatric surgery fellowship.
- This fellowship focuses exclusively on surgical care for infants, children, and adolescents, covering congenital anomalies, pediatric tumors, trauma, and other conditions specific to the pediatric population. The extended training period reflects the complexity of pediatric surgical cases and the specialized knowledge required to treat developing bodies, as emphasized in the study 1. Some programs may offer additional research opportunities or specialized training in areas like pediatric surgical oncology or minimally invasive techniques, potentially extending the total training time.
From the Research
Pediatric General Surgery Residency Duration
- The average length of pediatric surgery training is 5.7 years, with no significant difference between different regions 2.
- This duration is associated with GDP and life expectancy, but not pediatric mortality rate or surgeons' count 2.
Factors Influencing Residency Duration
- The broad spectrum of diseases treated by pediatric surgeons makes training long and hard 3.
- The educational value of pediatric surgery rotations is considered high by general surgery residents, with extensive teaching and operative experience 4.
- However, training general surgery residents in pediatric surgery increases operative time and cost 4.
Trends in Pediatric Surgery Training
- There is a significant decrease in pediatric surgery case numbers during general surgery residency in the United States 5.
- Despite meeting minimum case requirements, overall case variety is limited, and graduating general surgery residents may lack proficiency in simple pediatric surgery cases 5.
- Simulation-based training (SBT) can increase resident confidence and improve performance in pediatric surgery, and a pediatric surgery SBT curriculum for general surgery residents has been developed 6.