How safe is teaching of highly specialized rectal surgery? A propensity score-matched 10-year cohort study.

Cohort studyColorectal disease : the official journal of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland· Jul 2026

How safe is teaching of highly specialized rectal surgery? A propensity score-matched 10-year cohort study.

Simon Cheseaux, Luka Medic, Fabio Butti … Fabian Grass

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Colon & Rectal SurgeryCohort studyClinical practiceQ2IF 1.4

Supervised trainee-led rectal surgery not associated with higher morbidity than expert-led surgery

How safe is teaching of highly specialized rectal surgery? A propensity score-matched 10-year cohort study.

Simon Cheseaux … Fabian Grass

Colorectal disease · Jul 2026 · Q2 in Gastroenterology

Purpose

This study aimed to assess the impact of an institutional teaching program of highly specialized rectal procedures on intra- and early postoperative outcomes.

Methods

Were classified as expert (consultant-only) or teaching procedures (performed ≥75% by the trainee under direct supervision).

Results

trainee-led surgery did not raise complication risk versus expert-led

OR by subgroup · 95% CI

More results

After matching, 374 remained (187 per group).

IAEs occurred in 16% and 17% of expert-led and teaching procedures, respectively (p = 0.9).

0% (p = 0.5).

Multivariable analysis revealed high comorbidity indices and immunosuppression as independent risk factors.

“

Conclusion

Closely supervised teaching of highly specialized rectal surgery can be safely implemented into clinical practice without increasing perioperative morbidity, supporting the dual mission of surgical proficiency and training of high-volume centres.

How safe is teaching of highly specialized rectal surgery? A propensity score-matched 10-year cohort study.

How safe is teaching of highly specialized rectal surgery? A propensity score-matched 10-year cohort study.

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