Left-handed cardiac surgery: tips from set up to closure for trainees and their trainers

Clare Burdett; Joel Dunning; Andrew Goodwin; Maureen Theakston; Simon Kendall

doi:10.1186/s13019-016-0523-y

Left-handed cardiac surgery: tips from set up to closure for trainees and their trainers

J Cardiothorac Surg. 2016 Sep 1;11(1):139. doi: 10.1186/s13019-016-0523-y.

Authors

Clare Burdett¹, Joel Dunning², Andrew Goodwin², Maureen Theakston², Simon Kendall²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, James Cook University Hospital, Marton Road, Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW, UK. clareburdett@outlook.com.
² Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, James Cook University Hospital, Marton Road, Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW, UK.

Abstract

There are certain obstacles which left-handed surgeons can face when training but these are not necessary and often perpetuated by a lack of knowledge. Most have been encountered and overcome at some point but unless recorded and disseminated they will have to be resolved repeatedly by each trainee and their trainers. This article highlights difficulties that the left-hander may encounter in cardiac surgery and gives practical operative advice for both trainees and their trainers to help overcome them.

Keywords: Cardiothoracic; Left handed; Left-handed; Lefthanded; Surgery; Surgical training.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Cardiac Surgical Procedures / education
Cardiac Surgical Procedures / instrumentation*
Cardiac Surgical Procedures / methods*
Faculty, Medical*
Functional Laterality*
Humans