304: Are we running out of cardiac surgeons? Demography of cardiac surgeons in France in 2012

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to have an exact evaluation of the inflow and outflow of cardiac surgeons in France.MethodsThe French Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (SFCTCV) has built a database of the surgeons involved in thoracic and/or cardiac surgery in France. It includes all the surgeons who do performe cardiac or thoracic surgery whatever the number of operations performed per year, being or not member of the SFCTCV, and all the trainees as soon as they have expressed the will of becoming involved in thoracic and/or cardiac surgery.ResultsThe database includes 552 senior surgeons (Professors, staff physicians, private practitioners) practising cardiac and/or thoracic surgery. 208 practice cardiac, 273 thoracic and 71 both. The “inflow” includes 129 residents and 75 senior residents.Global analysis of age distribution shows a mean predictable outflow of 17.3 senior surgeons a year between 2012 and 2021. The “nflow” of senior residents for the next 5 years is 18 a year. The number of residents is 30 per year of residency.Cardiac surgeons “outflow” will be 7.7 a year and the inflow of finishing senior residents 10 a year. Sex distribution gives evidence of an increasing feminization. Women's ratio is 5%, 23% and 31% among senior surgeons, senior residents, and residents respectively.ConclusionFrance will not run out of cardiothoracic surgeons. The inflow compensates for the outflow of surgeons liable to stop their activity in the next ten years