How to Improve Training in Bowel Surgery for Gynecological Oncologists—Experience From a Single Center in the United Kingdom

Abstract

IntroductionThere is now a growing realization of the lack of experience of gynecological oncology trainees in gastrointestinal surgery. Advanced fellowship programs in gastrointestinal surgery have been suggested as a potential solution to this problem.Patients and MethodsWe present data relating to gastrointestinal procedures performed by the gynecological oncology trainee during a fellowship program over a 3-year period in a single gynecological oncology center in the United Kingdom.ResultsOver a 36-month period, 369 cases of invasive ovarian cancer were diagnosed in our institute, of which 278 (75.3%) were stage III/IV disease. Bowel surgery was performed in 86 patients (30.9%) with stage III/IV ovarian cancer. A total of 121 gastrointestinal procedures were performed during the study period, as some patients had more than one procedure. We present the procedures the gynecological oncology fellow performed and assisted during this period.DiscussionTo improve competencies in performing bowel surgery among gynecological oncology trainees, we suggest sustained exposure in bowel surgery over the entire duration of the training program.