Should Pediatric Surgical Oncologists Receive Training in Vascular Surgery ? A Practice Survey Report From the International Society of Paediatric Surgical Oncology (IPSO)

Prince Raj; Paul D Losty; Martin T Corbally

doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2024.02.019

Should Pediatric Surgical Oncologists Receive Training in Vascular Surgery ? A Practice Survey Report From the International Society of Paediatric Surgical Oncology (IPSO)

J Pediatr Surg. 2024 Feb 26:S0022-3468(24)00101-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2024.02.019. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Prince Raj¹, Paul D Losty², Martin T Corbally³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatric Surgery, King Hamad University Hospital, Royal Medical Services, Kingdom of Bahrain.
² Institute of Systems Molecular and Integrative Biology University of Liverpool, UK; Department of Paediatric Surgery, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. Electronic address: paul.losty@liverpool.ac.uk.
³ Department of Pediatric Surgery, King Hamad University Hospital, Royal Medical Services, Kingdom of Bahrain; Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Kingdom of Bahrain.

PMID: 38485535
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2024.02.019

Abstract

Background: Is vascular training in paediatric surgical oncology considered desirable ?

Methods: A voluntary survey of work practice was undertaken with the surgeon membership of The International Society Of Paediatric Surgical Oncology (IPSO) using a structured designed questionnaire.

Results: A total of 149 IPSO surgeon members completed the survey. 57% (N = 84) of surgeons surveyed had no specific training in vascular surgery. 43% surgeons (N = 63) stated they had acquired some skills in residency training and/or with transplantation surgery. 65% (N = 96) of respondent surgeons stated that vascular surgical training must be incorporated into pediatric surgical oncology training and 27% (N = 40) agreed that it was considered desirable. 89% (N = 133) of surgeon respondents had encountered major vascular injury during work practice while operating on pediatric solid tumors. Vascular injury repairs were undertaken and attempted by pediatric surgeons though expert assistance of vascular surgeons proved crucially essential in many instances. Emergent operations included patch repairs, vessel ligation techniques and insertion of vascular graft prostheses. Interventional radiology services to arrest life-threatening hemorrhage were also reportedly utilized by respondents.

Conclusion: Vascular injuries have significant potential for devastating patient outcomes including never event 'mortality'. The IPSO surgeon survey highlights that there are visible 'gaps' in skills training. Training to be a pediatric oncology surgeon must incorporate acquisition of skill sets proficiency in vascular surgery.

Keywords: International society of paediatric surgical oncology (IPSO); Pediatric surgery oncology; Practice survey; Surgery residency; Training; Vascular surgery.