PC114. How Does the Integrated Vascular Surgery Resident Operative Experience Compare to the Vascular Surgery Fellowship

After almost 10 years since their approval, integrated vascular surgery residents (VSR) in training now outnumber traditional vascular surgery fellows (VSF). We examined ACGME case log data to assess the difference in operative experience between the graduating integrated residents and vascular fellows. We analyzed national case log data for vascular surgery procedures during the academic years between 2012 and 2014 for the 30 graduating integrated vascular surgery residents (VSR) and the 243 vascular surgery fellows (VSF). Data were compared based on reported categories defined by the ACGME operation reporting system. VSR case totals were calculated by combining “Surgeon Chief”, “Surgeon Junior”, and “Secondary Procedures” categories. VSF “Surgeon Fellow” and “Secondary Procedures” case totals were combined with all vascular cases done in general surgery residency (using averages of General Surgery Resident ACGME case log data) to reflect their total vascular experience. The average total number of vascular procedures reported by VSR was 1446.0 compared to 1533.6 for VSF (P = .2648). VSR performed 694.7 major vascular procedures on average compared to 616.3 major cases for VSF (P = .0106). The breakdowns of average case volumes by ACGME categories are shown in the accompanying Table with associated significance values. Highlighted comparisons include open aortic cases-VSR 58.0 and VSF 57.4 (P = .9020); endovascular aortic cases-VSR 121.1 and VSF 115.8 (P = .4131); cerebrovascular cases-VSR 78.8 and VSF 85.0 (P = .1132); and peripheral obstructive cases-VSR 343.6 and VSF 293.4 (P = .0032). Integrated VSR and traditional VSF graduate with comparable overall vascular surgery operative experience. VSR reported, on average, a significantly higher number of major vascular procedures during their tenure as trainees as well as a significantly increased number of cases in 6 of the other ACGME categoriesTableAverage cases logged from 2012 to 2014Case categoryVSR (n = 30)VSF (n = 243)PaTotal open aortic58.057.4.9020Total endovascular aortic121.1115.8.4131Total aneurysm114.0114.6.9217Total cerebrovascular78.885.0.1132Total peripheral obstructive343.6293.4.0032Total abdominal obstructive34.032.3.6162Total upper extremity21.722.4.7241Total extra-anatomic21.414.4.0001Total thrombolysis/thrombectomy24.614.1.0001Total vascular trauma30.022.5.0172Total major vascular694.7616.3.0106Total venous120.875.0.0001Total endovascular diagnostic437.3395.2.1557Total miscellaneous vascular42.547.0.3102Total AV access89.385.5.5642Total amputations54.844.8.0008Total duplex137.0190.2.0912Total vascular procedures1446.01533.6.2648VSF, vascular surgery fellows; VSR, vascular surgery residents.aBold indicate statistical significance. Open table in a new tab