[How often do surgical residents operate in a category A non-university post-graduate teaching hospital?].

Introduction: After introduction of the new postgraduate training program for general surgery the completion of the operation list still represents the most important step. Based on our number of operations we examined whether residents would carry out the requested interventions at our non-university teaching hospital (category A).

Method: For eight tracer operations we retrospectively counted the number of cases of the non private patients from 1998-2002 and took account of the postgraduate education status of the operator. In this period the team consisted of 51 residents (71 education years), of whom 18 candidates for general surgery who carried out the interventions (35 education years, inclusive rotation in ICU, emergency room and special surgical disciplines).

Results: Regarding all tracer operations, the amount of interventions per year and candidate which are necessary to accomplish the goal for the first four years of education are reached: appendectomy 8.9, laparoscopic cholecystectomy 7.3, open inguinal hernia repair 9.4, varicose veins operation 12.1, open colon sigmoideum resection 3.2, hip and malleolar fracture 6.9, hemithyreoidectomy 5.

Conclusion: Completion of the operation list as the major training goal was reached at our institution. Following our structured education program the demands regarding postgraduate education will be met also in future. Further studies however, must examine the impact of the new resident's work contracts dictating a reduction of the weekly working hours.