Impact of paediatric surgery training on the attitudes and experience of frontline general surgeons in common paediatric surgical emergencies

Aim: The present study is a survey of the attitudes and experience of frontline general surgeons in common paediatric surgical emergencies, and their exposure to paediatric surgery (PS) during training. Methods: Questionnaires were sent to higher trainees and junior specialists in general surgery. Their experience in the management of common paediatric emergency conditions including acute scrotum, toddler appendicitis, infant incarcerated inguinal hernia and intussusception was asked. Results: Of the surgeons, 60.8% and 41.2% had no exposure to PS in their internship and basic surgical training, respectively. The majority of them managed less than five cases of intussusception (82.4%) and incarcerated inguinal hernia (66.7%); 19.6% and 37.3% indicated that they were competent in managing intussusception and incarcerated inguinal hernia, respectively. The majority believed that general surgeons should know how to manage these common paediatric emergency conditions. However, 56.9% and 78.4% opined that infants with incarcerated inguinal hernia and intussusception, respectively, should be managed in paediatric surgical centres. Conclusions: Although most frontline general surgeons opined that they should know how to manage common paediatric surgical emergencies, the majority of them did not feel competent to manage infantile intussusception and incarcerated inguinal hernia due to inadequate clinical exposure. They believed that intussusception and incarcerated inguinal hernia should be managed in a paediatric surgical centre.