The importance of including venous thromboembolism management in the vascular surgery training curriculum according to trainees from Australia and New Zealand

Background: Venous disorders, including acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) and chronic venous disorders, pose an increasingly significant health burden.Modern endovascular technologies offer effective treatment options for these conditions, highlighting the need for vascular surgeons to acquire these skills.The Australian and New Zealand Society for Vascular Surgery (ANZSVS) oversees the Surgical Education and Training (SET) program, which currently includes limited training in venous diseases within the published and implemented curriculum.Methods: This qualitative study surveyed current SET trainees in Australia and New Zealand to assess their sentiments regarding venous surgery training, self-assessment of skills, and the role of vascular surgeons in managing these diseases.An online survey and semi-structured interviews were conducted, focusing on demographics, prior experience, self-assessment, interest in venous surgery, and opinions on the curriculum.Results: 48 trainees were contacted, of which there were 21 respondents (43.75%), with 42.11% in mid-SET.While 75% had worked at centres performing deep venous interventions, only 14.3% stated they had adequate training in its management.Confidence in managing deep venous disorders was moderate, but low for pulmonary embolism.Most respondents expressed interest in deep venous training and being part of a pulmonary embolism response team (PERT).The current curriculum was rated poorly for teaching deep venous disorders, with 86% of respondents advocating for more emphasis on these conditions as part of their curriculum.Conclusions: There is a critical need to integrate venous thromboembolism management into the SET curriculum.Trainees show strong interest in acquiring these skills, suggesting desire for post-training fellowships and placements at specialized centres.