THE PREGNANT PLASTIC SURGICAL RESIDENT - RESULTS OF A SURVEY OF WOMENPLASTIC SURGEONS AND PLASTIC-SURGERY RESIDENCY DIRECTORS

Pregnancy during plastic surgery residency poses unique challenges to the resident herself, to her resident colleagues, and to her residency director. Studies of the effects of pregnancy have been conducted tha t have combined all medical specialties or have included all surgeons as a statistically uniform group. The Women Plastic Surgeons' Caucus C ommittee of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon s has conducted a survey in order to obtain objective data on maternal fetal complications, time off work, maternal leave policies, call cov erage, and other important issues. Response rates were 40 percent for the women residents and 45 percent for the program directors surveyed. The results show a 57 percent overall complication rate (excluding mi scarriages), a 26 percent elective abortion rate, and a 33 percent inf ertility rate in women plastic surgeons, numbers that are higher than those currently in the literature. Data obtained regarding issues such as time off work, planning of pregnancy, call coverage, productivity and income, perceived peer support, program directors' opinions and po licies, and possible solutions that might provide a mutually warding o utcome are presented for discussion.