Learning curve of laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a risk-adjusted cumulative summation (RA-CUSUM) analysis of six general surgery residents

Background Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LapC) is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures worldwide. Reaching technical competency in performing LapC is considered one essential task for young surgeons. Investigating the learning curve for LapC (LC-LapC) may provide important inform...

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Published in:	Surgical endoscopy 2023-10, Vol.37 (10), p.8133-8143
Main Authors:	Lombardi, Pietro Maria, Mazzola, Michele, Veronesi, Valentina, Granieri, Stefano, Cioffi, Stefano Piero Bernardo, Baia, Marco, Del Prete, Luca, Bernasconi, Davide Paolo, Danelli, Piergiorgio, Ferrari, Giovanni
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	2023 EAES Poster Abdominal Surgery Cholecystectomy Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic Clinical Competence Endoscopy Gallbladder Gastroenterology Gynecology Hepatology Hospitals Humans Internship and Residency Laparoscopy Laparoscopy - methods Learning Curve Learning curves Medicine Medicine & Public Health Patients Proctology Prospective Studies Retrospective Studies Surgeons Surgery Surgical techniques
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Summary:	Background Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LapC) is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures worldwide. Reaching technical competency in performing LapC is considered one essential task for young surgeons. Investigating the learning curve for LapC (LC-LapC) may provide important information regarding the learning process and guide the training pathway of residents, improving educational outcomes. The present study aimed to investigate LC-LapC among general surgery residents (GSRs). Methods Operative surgical reports of consecutive patients undergoing LapC performed by GSRs attending the General Surgery Residency Program at the University of Milan were analysed. Data on patient- and surgery-related variables were obtained from the ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes and gathered. A multidimensional assessment of the LC was performed through Cumulative Sum (CUSUM) and Risk-Adjusted (RA)-CUSUM analysis. Results 340 patients operated by 6 GSRs were collected. The CUSUM and RA-CUSUM graphs based on surgical failures allowed to distinguish two defined phases for all GSRs: an initial phase ending at the peak, so-called learning phase, followed by a phase in which there was a significant decrease in failure incidence, so-called proficiency phase. The learning phase was completed for all GSRs at most within 25 procedures, but the trend of the curves and the number of procedures needed to achieve technical competency varied among operators ranging between 7 and 25. Conclusions The present study suggested that at most 25 procedures might be sufficient to acquire technical competency in LapC. The variability in the number of procedures needed to complete the LC, ranging between 7 and 25, could be due to the heterogeneous scenarios in which LapC was performed, and deserves to be investigated through a prospective study involving a larger number of GSRs and institutions. Graphical abstract
ISSN:	0930-2794 1432-2218