Current laparoscopy training in urology: a comparison of fellowships governed by the Society of Urologic Oncology and the Endourological Society.

Objective: Laparoscopic surgery is now an integral technique in the practice of urology, particularly in the management of certain urologic malignancies. Advanced laparoscopy training in urology is primarily reserved for those pursuing fellowship training and is offered both by traditional endourology fellowships and increasingly in urologic oncology fellowships. The purpose of our study was to evaluate and compare current laparoscopy training at the fellowship level.

Methods: A 17-item questionnaire was developed with support from both the Endourological Society (EUS) and Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO). Surveys were sent to program directors of fellowships recognized by the EUS and SUO. Directors were surveyed on the laparoscopic case volume, degree of oncology training, and career choice of their graduates. Data were analyzed with Wilcoxon rank-sum and Student t tests.

Results: Our survey had an overall response rate of 60%. Fellows performed more than 100 laparoscopies during their training period in 57% of EUS and 25% of SUO fellowship programs. Similar trends are demonstrated when analyzing robotic procedures, with 73% of EUS fellows performing more than 50 procedures compared with 43% of SUO fellows. The majority (59%) of EUS programs provide oncologic training. Between 44% and 100% of graduates from EUS and SUO fellowships obtain academic positions. The majority of SUO directors (63%) believe that fellowship training in laparoscopy should be provided in fellowships governed solely by the SUO, while 41% of EUS directors believe this training should be governed solely by the EUS.

Conclusions: Endourology fellowships currently provide a greater exposure to laparoscopy and robotics than SUO fellowships. The percentage of fellows seeking academic positions is similar for EUS and SUO fellowship programs and has remained stable for several years. Directors of fellowship programs that offer advanced laparoscopic training have divergent views as to which administrative body should govern its future.