Comparison of surgical outcomes between consultant and residents general surgeons after elective abdominal procedures.

Abstract

Objective: To compare surgical outcomes after elective abdominal surgeries between consultant and supervised resident general surgeons. Study Design: Cross Sectional study. Setting: Department of General Surgery, HMC, MTI Peshawar. Period: March 2023 to September 2023. Methods: Included 129 patients undergoing elective abdominal surgeries. Patients aged 18-70 years were included, while emergency procedures, pregnant patients, abdominal trauma cases, and surgeries by junior residents were excluded. Preoperative data, including patient demographics and clinical characteristics, were collected. Surgeries were performed by consultants or 4^th year resident under supervision. Postoperative complications were monitored for 30 days. Results: The study population comprised 55.8% females and 44.2% males, with a mean age of 39±10.9 years. Consultants performed 49.6% of surgeries, while residents performed 50.4%. Mesh hernia repair was the most common procedure (50.4%). Surgical site infection was the most frequent complication (13.2%), followed by readmission (3.1%) and return to OR (2.3%). No statistically significant differences in complication rates were found between consultant and resident surgeons (all p-values > 0.05). Conclusion: The study demonstrates comparable postoperative complication rates between consultant and resident surgeons, highlighting the effectiveness of supervised surgical training in maintaining high standards of patient care. Direct supervision plays a crucial role in developing residents' skills while ensuring patient safety.