In This Section

Criteria for Minimal Operative Experience

The Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery considers the following to be the minimum requirement for adequate operative experience during the six years of Cardiothoracic Surgery training. The total operative experience must be recorded in the Trainee logbook which will be assessed every six months by the Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery.

It is emphasised that these numbers are to be taken as a general guide and that discretion is left with the Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Should operative experience be deemed sub-optimal at any stage of training, additional training time may be required to rectify the situation.

Component Procedures (either Assisted or Unassisted - but as a primary operator)

  • Aorto-coronary Anastomosis - 75
  • Cannulation for Bypass - 50
  • Distal Coronary Anastomosis - 75
  • Insertion of Coronary Sinus Cannula - 50
  • Internal Mammary Artery Harvest - 125
  • Median Sternotomy - 200
  • Radial Artery Harvest - 50
  • Redo Sternotomy - 10
  • Saphenous Vein Harvest - 125
  • Sternal Closure - 200
  • Coronary Artery Bypass:
    • Trainee Unassisted - 10
    • Trainee Assisted - 75
    • First Assistant - 300
  • Aortic Valve Surgery:
    • Trainee Assisted - 10
    • First Assistant - 50
  • Aortic Surgery:
    • First Assistant - 20
  • Mitral Valve Surgery:
    • Trainee Assisted - 5
    • First Assistant - 30
  • Other Valve Surgery:
    • First Assistant - 10
  • Pacemakers:
    • Trainee Assisted - 20
  • Total Major Cardiac Procedures:
    • Trainee Unassisted - 10
    • Trainee Assisted - 100
    • First Assistant - 600
  • Thoracotomy +/ - Lung Biopsy:
    • Trainee Unassisted - 5
    • Trainee Assisted - 10
    • First Assistant - 10
  • Pulmonary Resection:
    • Trainee Unassisted - 5
    • Trainee Assisted - 20
    • First Assistant - 20
  • Total Major Thoracic Procedures:
    • Trainee Unassisted - 10
    • Trainee Assisted - 30
    • First Assistant - 50
  • VATS Procedures:
    • Trainee Unassisted - 20
    • Trainee Assisted - 50
  • Bronchoscopy:
    • Trainee Assisted / Unassisted - 80

Guidelines for Operative Experience - By the end of SET 3

  • Aorto-coronary Anastomosis - 10
  • Cannulation for Bypass - 50
  • Internal Mammary Artery Harvest - 50
  • Median Sternotomy - 80
  • Radial Artery Harvest - 10
  • Saphenous Vein Harvest - 125
  • Sternal Closure - 80
  • Coronary Artery Bypass:
    • First Assistant - 150
  • Aortic Valve Surgery:
    • First Assistant - 20
  • Mitral Valve Surgery:
    • First Assistant - 12
  • Other Valve Surgery:
    • First Assistant - 4
  • Total Major Cardiac Procedures:
    • First Assistant - 200
  • Thoracotomy +/- Lung Biopsy:
    • First Assistant - 10
  • Pulmonary Resection:
    • First Assistant - 15
  • Total Major Thoracic Procedures:
    • First Assistant - 30
  • VATS Procedures:
    • First Assistant - 10

A curriculum in Cardiac or Thoracic Surgery may be obtained upon application to the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.