Influence of fellowship educational experience on practice patterns for adrenalectomy: A survey of recent AAES fellowship graduates

Background: Current practice patterns for adrenalectomy among endocrine surgeons is a limited area of study. Here we survey relatively junior endocrine surgeons regarding educational experiences in adrenalectomy and correlate these with current practice. Methods: An electronic survey was sent to recent AAES-accredited fellowships graduates (2014-2019), querying adrenalectomy volume and approaches during fellowship and current practice patterns. Results: Most graduates (63.2%) performed >20 adrenalectomies in fellowship. Exposure was greatest to open (94.1%) and laparoscopic transabdominal (92.6%) adrenalectomy, followed by retroperitoneoscopic (86.7%). The majority (73.5%) of respondents stated their current practice patterns are the same as their exposure during training. Preoperative diagnosis, side of lesion, and patient comorbidities were all ranked as significant predictors affecting choice of approach (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The large majority of AAES fellowship graduates receive high-volume adrenalectomy experience in several approaches. The technique to which a trainee was exposed to most frequently was the greatest predictor for preferential approach in current practice. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study found that most fellowship graduates had high-volume adrenalectomy experience during training, with open and laparoscopic approaches being the most common. Respondents stated that their current practice patterns were similar to their training exposure, with preoperative diagnosis, side of lesion, and patient comorbidities being significant predictors for choice of approach.