J.Jpn. Surg. Soc.. 125(6): 489-497, 2024

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Feature topic

CURRENT SITUATION OF PEDIATRIC CARDIOVASCULAR SURGEONS

It is said that pediatric cardiac surgeons are an endangered species. We are facing a complex web of pressure factors related to this endangerment, which are not easy to avoid. The main pressure factors are: 1) declining birthrates and the resulting decrease in the number of congenital and pediatric cardiac surgeries required; 2) the burdensome perioperative management is difficult to transfer to ICUs, because it is specific to congenital heart disease and respiratory management affects circulatory management more than other areas; 3) the resulting working environment including perioperative management is more difficult than in other medical fields; and 4) the trend toward nuclear families and recent work style reforms make the jobs of pediatric cardiac surgeons more complex. It is hoped that this report will serve as a bridge to the following ones by presenting the current situation that pediatric cardiac surgeons in Japan now face.

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