Multidimensional Analysis of the Learning Curve of Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery in a Regional Hospital. The Implementation of a Standardised Surgical Procedure Counterbalances the Lack of Experience.
Background: Although in the last few years a larger proportion of colorectal surgeries have been performed laparoscopically, a steep learning curve prevents us from considering laparoscopic colorectal surgery as the gold standard technique for treating disease entities in the colon and rectum. The purpose of this single center study is to determine, using various parameters and following a well structured and standardised surgical procedure, the adequate number of cases after which a single surgeon qualified in open surgery but with no previous experience of laparoscopic colorectal surgery and without supervision, can acquire proficiency in this technique.
Methods: From 2012 to 2019, 112 patients with pathology in the rectum and colon underwent a laparoscopic colorectal resection by a team led by the same surgeon. The patients were divided into two groups (Group A:50 – Group B:62) and their case records and histopathology reports were examined for predefined parameters, statistically analyzed and compared between groups.
Results: There was no significant difference between groups in the distribution of conversions (p=0.635) and complications (p=0.637). Patients in both groups were operated for the same median number of lymph nodes (p=0.145) and stayed the same number of days in hospital (p=0.109). A statistically important difference was found in operation duration both in total (p=0.006) and for each different type of colectomy (sigmoidectomy: p=0.026, right colectomy: p=0.013, Extralevator abdominoperineal resection: p=0.050, low anterior resection: p=0.083).
Conclusions: Taking into consideration all the parameters, it is our belief that a surgeon acquires proficiency in laparoscopic colorectal surgery after performing at least 50 diverse cases with a well structured and standardised surgical procedure.
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Posted 24 Sep, 2020
On 02 Dec, 2020
On 02 Dec, 2020
On 20 Oct, 2020
On 17 Oct, 2020
Received 17 Oct, 2020
On 10 Oct, 2020
Received 10 Oct, 2020
Invitations sent on 09 Oct, 2020
On 10 Sep, 2020
On 09 Sep, 2020
On 09 Sep, 2020
Posted 10 Aug, 2020
Multidimensional Analysis of the Learning Curve of Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery in a Regional Hospital. The Implementation of a Standardised Surgical Procedure Counterbalances the Lack of Experience.
Posted 24 Sep, 2020
On 02 Dec, 2020
On 02 Dec, 2020
On 20 Oct, 2020
On 17 Oct, 2020
Received 17 Oct, 2020
On 10 Oct, 2020
Received 10 Oct, 2020
Invitations sent on 09 Oct, 2020
On 10 Sep, 2020
On 09 Sep, 2020
On 09 Sep, 2020
Posted 10 Aug, 2020
Background: Although in the last few years a larger proportion of colorectal surgeries have been performed laparoscopically, a steep learning curve prevents us from considering laparoscopic colorectal surgery as the gold standard technique for treating disease entities in the colon and rectum. The purpose of this single center study is to determine, using various parameters and following a well structured and standardised surgical procedure, the adequate number of cases after which a single surgeon qualified in open surgery but with no previous experience of laparoscopic colorectal surgery and without supervision, can acquire proficiency in this technique.
Methods: From 2012 to 2019, 112 patients with pathology in the rectum and colon underwent a laparoscopic colorectal resection by a team led by the same surgeon. The patients were divided into two groups (Group A:50 – Group B:62) and their case records and histopathology reports were examined for predefined parameters, statistically analyzed and compared between groups.
Results: There was no significant difference between groups in the distribution of conversions (p=0.635) and complications (p=0.637). Patients in both groups were operated for the same median number of lymph nodes (p=0.145) and stayed the same number of days in hospital (p=0.109). A statistically important difference was found in operation duration both in total (p=0.006) and for each different type of colectomy (sigmoidectomy: p=0.026, right colectomy: p=0.013, Extralevator abdominoperineal resection: p=0.050, low anterior resection: p=0.083).
Conclusions: Taking into consideration all the parameters, it is our belief that a surgeon acquires proficiency in laparoscopic colorectal surgery after performing at least 50 diverse cases with a well structured and standardised surgical procedure.
Figure 1
Figure 2