216. Hernia Surgery in Central America

So when you train in in Central America, I assume the training is actually quite similar to the US training of residency for general surgery.

Yeah, right now there's more differences because of robotics.

We don't have robotics yet.

That's where we're really pushing forward.

And that's like my next obsession.

We're all racing to get it.

But pretty much the same.

We have four years instead of five.

Okay.

But in our intern year, we do a lot.

Like intern here in the US, it's pretty much a resident the first year.

And down there, pretty much is the year after you're done with med school.

Got it.

You do a little bit of everything.

And most general surgeons in Costa Rica will be doing a lot of hernia surgery?

Yes, yes.

And the hernia surgery is mostly open? Or how much laparoscopic is involved?

You know, we actually did a study that got published about it, how much, and I've gone over it.

I can tell you right now it has been developing and it's so to watch history as it gets written, because since we've met and we've seen the guidelines change 2018 and 2023, um, more and more like private surgery, pretty much as laparoscopic minimally invasive.

Okay.

rarely you would see something open.

Even ETEP for ventrals.

Very nice, yeah.

We did some live surgeries with IHC and it has skyrocketed since then.

Like private surgery, which we do at Kliniko Erotica, it's pretty much that.