Dear Trainees,

The Urology Board Committee wishes to use this corner to bring new messages about training to the attention of all urology trainees. Please take some effort to click into this corner from time to time.

In the last Urology Board Committee meeting the logbook of one trainee was referred back from the Education and Examination Committee of the College for further scrutiny because the summary was unusual in that no intermediate or minor cases was returned. Subsequently, the logbook was amended by the trainee and was accepted by the Urology Board Committee as satisfactory. The finding will be reported back to College. The definition of major case for logbook entry required by the College is different from the classification by Hospital Authority for administrative purpose. Trainees are reminded that the College definition is promulgated in the College website as follows:
The following are considered major urology cases for entry into training logbook:

1. Diagnostic procedures: endoscopy of upper tract and above (in complexity)
2. Therapeutic endoscopy and interventional procedures.
3. Open procedures: open lithotomy and above (in complexity)

For cases that are not major, they are to be counted as intermediate or minor.

In our urology logbook summary sheet a more detail classification could be found. Some of the classification is highlighted as follows:

1. All open/ laparoscopic operations involving the kidney, ureter or bladder are major
2. All therapeutic endoscopies involving the kidney, ureter or bladder are major
3. All diagnostic endoscopies involving the kidney or ureter are major.
4. All interventional radio-urological procedures including PCN are major.
5. Orchidopexy and hypospadias repair are major.
6. All procedures related to dialysis access are major.
7. Any type of penectomy, orchidectomy or varicocelectomy are major.
8. Cases specified as intermediate/ minor include: circumcision, vasectomy, inguinal hernia repair, testicular fixation for torsion, hydrocele or cyst inside scrotum

The following are considered investigations and not counted in operation number of logbook:

1. Rigid and flexible cystoscopy without intervention other than biopsy
2. Urodynamic studies
3. Transrectal ultrasound +/- biopsy
4. Bedside ultrasound

The Board Committee hoped that such clarification would help to unify logbook entries of Urology trainees.

The Committee also noted that there had been some instances of late submission of logbook summaries to the Programme Director. The General Surgery Board has stipulated that trainees need to submit their logbook summaries within two weeks after completion of each half year of training. If the logbook summary was not received before the deadline, the half-year of training will not be recognized. The Urology Board Committee trusts our trainees to be able to exercise greater self-discipline and would be reluctant to apply similar stringent measures to our trainees. Trainees must take effort to keep such trust. Please submit your logbook summary to your Programme Director within two weeks of completion of each half year of training. Don’t wait for a reminder.

Happy training!

C W Man
Hon Secretary
Urology Board Committee