Changing Patterns of Resident Operative Experience From 1990 to 1997

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Abstract
THE AMERICAN health care system has been in transition for the last 2 decades. Principles of cost containment and efficiency have pervaded our hospitals.1 Technological advances with significant inherent cost continue to affect modern medical and surgical management. Advances such as duplex scanning, high-resolution computed tomography, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, and endoscopy combined with the advent of minimally invasive surgery have changed the diagnostic and therapeutic practices of surgery in this country.2 These changes have affected the characteristics of surgical training as well. The number of surgical procedures has increased,3,4 while the variety of operative experiences during surgical training has changed over the last decade. Awareness of these changes may assist program directors to better structure house staff operative experiences and requirements.