Background: The parathyroidectomy approach has shifted over the last few decades from routine bilateral to more commonly focused exploration. The purpose of this study is to assess the operative experience in parathyroidectomy for surgical trainees as well as overall parathyroidectomy trends.
Methods: Data from the Collaborative Endocrine Surgery Quality Improvement Program (CESQIP) were analyzed between 2014 and 2019.
Results: The overall distribution of focused versus bilateral parathyroidectomy remained stable (2014: 54 % focused and 46 % bilateral approach; 2019: 55 % focused and 45 % bilateral). Ninety three percent of procedures involved a trainee (fellow or resident) in 2014, this dropped to 74 % in 2019 (P < 0.005). Fellow involvement decreased significantly from 31 % to 17 % (P < 0.05) over the six-year period.
Conclusions: Resident exposure to parathyroidectomies mirrored that of practicing endocrine surgeons. This works highlights the opportunities to capture more information regarding the surgical trainee experience in endocrine surgeries.
Keywords: AAES; CESQIP; Endocrine surgery; Hyperparathyroidism; Parathyroidectomy; Surgical trainee.
Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.