Background: There is a potential conflict of interest in providing the best
possible outcome for patients undergoing cardiac surgery and good training
for junior cardiac surgeons. Methods: We analysed training with reference
to volume of work, risk stratification and outcome for consultant and train
ee procedures. The Parsonnet system was used For risk stratification. A ret
rospective audit was performed for a 6-year period. Results: During the stu
dy period, 6037 operations were performed, of which 2166 were carried out b
y trainees. Direct consultant assistance in a trainee operation varied betw
een 17% and 51% and increased towards the end of the study period. Of the o
perations performed by trainees, 88% were CABG. The median Parsonnet score
for consultant operations was 9 compared with 4 for trainees. Actual mortal
ity was below predicted for all surgeons. Morbidity was also lowest for tra
inees (10%). Conclusions: With appropriate case selection, trainees in card
iac surgery can achieve good results. As training changes in the UK, traine
es should receive increased supervised exposure to a wider range of procedu
re to compensate for a lower volume of workload.