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The impact of a head and neck microvascular fellowship program on otolaryngology resident training
Author(s) -
Zender Chad A.,
Clancy Kate,
Melki Sami,
Li Shawn,
Fowler Nicole
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.26680
Subject(s) - medicine , otorhinolaryngology , retrospective cohort study , graduate medical education , accreditation , head and neck , head and neck surgery , family medicine , general surgery , surgery , medical education
Objective To assess the impact of a microvascular head and neck (H&N) fellowship on senior residents' surgical experience. Study Design Retrospective review of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education‐generated operative case log reports, retrospective chart review, and electronic survey. Methods A retrospective review of one institution's residents' H&N operative case logs and free flap operative reports was performed to determine changes in key indicator cases (KICs) after the addition of a H&N fellowship. An electronic survey was distributed to senior residents at all U.S. otolaryngology residency programs to determine residents' perceptions of a H&N fellow's impact on their surgical experience. An electronic survey was distributed to senior medical students applying to surgical residencies to explore the perceived impact that a fellowship has on the desirability of a residency program. Results The average number of each postgraduate year (PGY)5's H&N KIC before and after the addition of the fellowship were: parotidectomy, 19 versus 17.8; neck dissection, 33.2 versus 40.6; oral cavity resection, 15.3 versus 12.6; thyroid/parathyroid, 45.5 versus 45.6; and flaps/grafts, 56.7 versus 42. PGY5 participation as first assistant in free flaps dropped from 78% to 17%; however, residents still participated in some aspect of 45% of the cases. Seventy percent of senior residents reported a positive perception of the H&N fellow on their H&N operative experience. Eighty‐nine percent of senior medical student respondents reported a nonnegative perception of a fellowship in their applied field. Conclusion The addition of a H&N fellowship did not decrease senior residents' H&N KIC, and most senior residents at programs with fellowships report that the fellow has a positive impact on their H&N operative experience. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope , 128:52–56, 2018