201. Assessing the Learning Curve for Totally Laparoscopic Major-Complex Liver Resections
- Author
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Francesco Puleo, Marcello Giuseppe Spampinato, Marianna Arvanitakis, Lucio Mandala, Gianandrea Baldazzi, and Giuseppe Quarta
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Operative Time ,MEDLINE ,Liver resections ,Hepatectomy ,Humans ,Medicine ,Hepatobiliary surgeon ,Aged ,Retrospective Studies ,Aged, 80 and over ,Surgeons ,business.industry ,Liver Neoplasms ,Follow up studies ,Retrospective cohort study ,Middle Aged ,Surgery ,Learning curve ,Right posterior ,Operative time ,Female ,Laparoscopy ,Clinical Competence ,business ,Learning Curve ,Follow-Up Studies - Abstract
Encouraging results have been reported in terms of feasibility, safety, and oncologic, outcomes even for major (≥ 3 segments) or complex for location-specific (right posterior segments) laparoscopic liver resections. Despite this, technically challenging issues and advanced laparoscopic skills required to perform it have limited its use in few highly specialized centers. The aim of this study was to assess the learning curve for major-complex totally laparoscopic liver resections (TLLR) performed by a single HPB surgeon.From October 2008 to February 2012, a total of 70 TLLR were performed; 24 (33.3%) were major-complex resections. This series was divided in 2 groups according to time of operation: group A (12 cases early series) and group B (12 cases late series); perioperative outcomes were retrospectively analyzed and compared.Comparing the 2 groups, a statistically significant improvement was found in terms of operative time (P=0.017), blood loss (P=0.004), number of cases requiring a Pringle maneuver (P=0.006), and blood transfusion (P=0.001) from case number ten onward.This study shows that a minimum of 10 cases are required to obtain a significant improvement in perioperative outcome for surgeons with specific training on hepatobiliary surgery and advanced laparoscopic surgical procedures. More studies are required to clarify the minimum standard of training to perform safely this kind of advanced laparoscopic liver surgery on a large scale.
- Published
- 2015
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