Which Cholecystectomy do Medical Students Prefer?

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: This study was undertaken to identify which minimally invasive technique medical students prefer for cholecystectomy and what factors determine their decision. METHODS: Brazilian medical students watched a video reviewing the advantages and disadvantages of six different surgical approaches to cholecystectomy: open surgery, conventional laparoscopy, mini-laparoscopy (MINI), single-incision laparoscopic surgery, natural-orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery, and robotic surgery. Respondents then answered questions about hypothetical situations in which the participants would be submitted to elective cholecystectomy. RESULTS: = .025). When asked if they would consider a single-incision laparoscopic surgery or natural-orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery approach, 94 respondents (84%) answered no. When asked to rank which factors they consider the most important when choosing a surgical technique, they ranked safety of the procedure first (58%) and surgeon experience second (30%). CONCLUSION: When Brazilian medical students were asked to select a surgical approach for cholecystectomy, most chose MINI. The preference for MINI was strongest amongst female medical students. Both female and male medical students ranked safety as the most important factor.