Innovation and challenges: minimally invasive surgery training in Latin America.

Abstract

Objective: Our objective was to assess the current status of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) training in Latin America and to identify the primary hurdles for the acquisition of laparoscopic skills.

Materials and methods: An anonymous survey was launched on various social media in November 2022. Surgeon responses were analyzed.

Results: 131 pediatric surgeons from 98 surgical institutions in 16 Latin-American countries replied to the survey. MIS training during residency was found in 45.9% of the surgeons with >  20 years' experience, and in 95.2% of the surgeons with < 10 years' experience. A median of 3 courses (IQR: 2; 5) had been completed by 116 surgeons (88.5%), 70.2% of them ≤ 3 days long, and 85.4% self-funded. The primary hurdles to attend them were the lack of financial resources and/or the absence of local courses (80%). Virtual courses were regarded as a recommendable option to acquire laparoscopic skills by 100 (76.3%) respondents.

Conclusions: MIS training in Latin America has exponentially increased in the last decades. However, training programs have room for improvement, which means training is highly surgeon-dependent, since courses are selected and self-funded by surgeons themselves.