Best practices for the pregnant neurosurgical resident: balancing safety and education

Establishment of a diverse neurosurgical workforce includes increasing the recruitment of women in neurosurgery. The impact of pregnancy on the training and career trajectory of female neurosurgeons poses a barrier to recruitment and retention of women in neurosurgery. A recent Women in Neurosurgery survey evaluated female neurosurgeons' perception and experience regarding childbearing of female neurosurgeons and identified several recommendations regarding family leave policies. Additionally, pregnancy may carry higher risk in surgical fields, yet little guidance exists to aid both the pregnant resident and her training program in optimizing the safety of the training environment with specific considerations to risks inherent in neurosurgical training. This review of current literature aims to address best practices that can be adopted by pregnant neurosurgery residents and their training programs to improve the well-being of these residents while considering the impact on their education and the educational environment for their colleagues.

Automated summary

Establishing a diverse neurosurgical workforce involves increasing the recruitment of women in neurosurgery. The impact of pregnancy on female neurosurgeons' training and career trajectory poses challenges for recruitment and retention. A recent survey evaluated the perception and experience of female neurosurgeons regarding childbearing and identified recommendations for family leave policies. This review aims to address best practices for pregnant neurosurgery residents and their training programs, aiming to improve their well-being while considering the impact on education and the training environment for colleagues.