The Changing Paradigm Shift in Surgery- What you need to Know and to be prepared

The surgical field is undergoing a significant paradigm shift.

This is majorly driven by advancements in minimally invasive techniques in the current digital age and ever changing world as well as the growing emphasis on non-technical skills for surgeons.

This transformation presents both challenges and opportunities for young professionals interested in pursuing a career in surgery.

Surgery has become highly specialized and subspecialized requiring surgical professionals to spend even more learning time to super specialize in their future careers before venturing out to the world.

Minimally Invasive Surgery: The rise of minimally invasive procedures, such as laparoscopic surgery and robotic-assisted surgeries and hand assisted minimally invasive surgery as well as interventional and percutaneous procedures have revolutionized the surgical field drastically.

These techniques offer patients the following;

• Reduced recovery times
• Keyhole versus smaller incisions leading to reduced pain and
• Improved outcomes especially in the older population and obese population.?
• As a result, surgical trainees must now master a new set of technical skills, including hand-eye coordination, depth perception, and the ability to operate in a confined space.
• Mastering these skills requires a shift in the traditional "see one, do one, teach one" approach to surgical training.
• Non-Technical Skills for Surgeons: In addition to technical proficiency, modern surgical practice also emphasizes the importance of non-technical skills.
• What are these Non Technical Skills for Surgeons?
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Decision-making, and
• Situational awareness.?
• These skills are crucial for ensuring patient safety, efficient surgical workflows, and effective collaboration with the entire healthcare team.
• Incorporating the development of non-technical skills into surgical training programs is essential for producing well-rounded, competent surgeons
• What then are the implications for Young Professionals: The changing landscape of surgery presents both challenges and opportunities for young professionals interested in pursuing a career in this field.
• Aspiring surgeons must be prepared to adapt to the evolving technical and non-technical demands of the profession.
• This may require a greater emphasis on simulation-based training, competency-based education, and the development of interpersonal skills.
• If you are a young professional interested in pursuing a career in surgery, I encourage you to reach out to surgeons who have gone before you and create a Mentor- mentee relationship to help you better understand the changing surgical field and expertise. The beauty of the current world , Is we are a global market thus, mentorship may traverses different continents an towns.
• Research and Evidence based medicine in Surgery is not left behind. The changing and dynamism of surgical literature is not left behind . One must be ready to keep abreast of the current research and literature papers that are published at a faster rate than a decade ago.
• I would be happy to discuss the changing paradigm in surgical training and provide guidance on how to best prepare for this exciting and rewarding field.
• Together, we can explore the strategies and resources available to help you navigate the evolving landscape of modern surgical practice.?
• Beyer-Berjot, L., Berdah, S., Hashimoto, D. A., Darzi, A., & Aggarwal, R. (2016). A Virtual Reality Training Curriculum for Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery. Journal of Surgical Education, 74(3), 524-532. ?Chapman, W. C. (2016). Surgical Training in the United States: Is It Time for a Paradigm Shift? Journal of the American College of Surgeons, 223(1), 1-7. ?Dedy, N. J., Fecso, A. B., Szasz, P., Bonrath, E. M., & Grantcharov, T. P. (2016). Implementation of an Effective Strategy for Teaching Nontechnical Skills in the Operating Room: A Single-blinded Nonrandomized Trial. Annals of Surgery, 263(5), 937-941. ?Hochberg, M. S., Berman, R. S., Kalet, A. L., Zabar, S. R., Gillespie, C., & Pachter, H. L. (2016). Professionalism Training For Surgical Residents: Documenting the Advantages of a Professionalism Curriculum. Annals of Surgery, 264(3), 501-507. ?Grenda, T. R., Pradarelli, J. C., & Dimick, J. B. (2016). Using Surgical Video to Improve Technique and Skill. Annals of Surgery, 264(1), 32-33. Rosenberg, J. (2016). We need a paradigm shift in surgical training. Annals of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgery, 1, 3. Lindeman, B., & Sarosi, G. A. (2020). Competency-based resident education: The United States perspective. Surgery, 167(5), 777-781.