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 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.

Multidimensional evaluation of the learning curve for laparoscopic complete mesocolic excision for right colon cancer: a risk-adjusted cumulative summation analysis.

AIM: Despite the suggested potential benefit of complete mesocolic excision (CME) for right-sided colon cancer (RCC) for patient survival, concerns about its safety and feasibility have contributed to delayed acceptance of the procedure, especially when performed by a minimally invasive approach. Thus, the aim of this work was to evaluate the actual learning curve (LC) of laparoscopic CME for experienced colorectal surgeons. METHOD: Prospectively collected data for consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic CME for RCC between October 2015 and January 2021 at our institution, operated on by experienced surgeons, were analysed. A multidimensional assessment of the LC was performed through cumulative sum (CUSUM) and risk-adjusted (RA) CUSUM analysis. RESULTS: Two hundred and two patients operated by on by three surgeons were considered. The CUSUM graphs based on operating time showed one peak of the curve between 17 and 27 cases. The CUSUM graphs based on surgical failure showed one peak of the curve between 20 and 24 cases The RA-CUSUM curve also showed one preeminent peak at 24-33 cases. Based on the CUSUM and RA-CUSUM analyses all the surgeons reached proficiency in 24-33 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that an experienced minimally invasive colorectal surgeon acquires proficiency in laparoscopic CME for RCC after performing 24-33 cases.

Learning Curve of Robotic-Assisted Total Mesorectal Excision for Rectal Cancer.

Background: Although some studies have assessed the learning curve of robotic-assisted total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer, most studies included limited sample sizes, no study used postoperative complications as an independent variable to analyze the learning curve of robotic rectal surgery, and no study evaluated the influence of the learning curve on long-term oncologic outcomes. Methods: Clinical data on consecutive patients who underwent robotic-assisted total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer by a single surgeon between January 2015 and December 2018 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University were retrospectively collected. The cumulative sum (CUSUM) and risk-adjusted cumulative sum (RA-CUSUM) were used to visualize the learning curve of operation time and postoperative complications (CD ≥ grade II). Comparisons of clinical outcomes at different learning phases analyzed by RA-CUSUM were performed after propensity score matching. Results: A total of 389 consecutive patients were included in the analysis. The numbers of patients needed to overcome the learning curves of operation time and postoperative complications of robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer were 34 and 36, respectively. The learning process was divided into two phases based on RA-CUSUM: the learning phase (1st-36th cases) and the mastery phase (37th-389th cases). Before matching, the mastery phase had more patients with older age, lower tumor location, and neoadjuvant therapy. After matching, the two phases exhibited similar characteristics. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, and postoperative complications in the mastery phase were reduced compared with the learning phase, with a median follow-up of 35 months, and the long-term oncologic outcomes were not significantly different between the two phases. Conclusions: An experienced laparoscopic surgeon initially implements robotic-assisted total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer, surgical outcomes improved after 36 cases, and the learning curve seemingly did not have an obvious impact on long-term oncologic outcomes.

The Road to Technical Proficiency in Cytoreductive Surgery for Peritoneal Carcinomatosis: Risk-Adjusted Cumulative Summation Analysis.

Background: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) is a technically demanding procedure, and there is considerable debate about its safe application. This study investigated the learning curve for CRS and the clinical outcomes of consecutive patients treated by a single surgeon at a single institution. Methods: We collected 251 consecutive patients who underwent CRS for peritoneal metastases by a single surgeon at Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, between January 2016 and December 2020. The learning curve was estimated using the cumulative summation analysis (CUSUM) for operative time (OT). Risk-adjusted CUSUM (RA-CUSUM) charts were developed using a composite variable (surgical failure), defined as the occurrence of at least one of the following events: major postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥3), blood loss ≥500 mL, incomplete cytoreduction. Three learning phases were thus derived from the RA-CUSUM analysis, and were compared in terms of perioperative outcomes. Results: CUSUM-OT showed that the operation time improved significantly after the 161th case. RA-CUSUM analysis allowed to break the CRS learning curve into three different phases: phase 1, "the learning phase" (cases 1-99), phase 2 "the experienced phase" (cases 100-188), and phase 3, "the mastership phase" (cases 189-251). The rate of major postoperative complications decreased significantly over the three phases (p = 0.019). Operative time decreased significantly as well (p = 0.031) and was significantly shorter in phase 3 with respect to the other two phases (phase 3 vs phase 2: 420 min vs 500 min, p = 0.017; phase 3 vs phase 1: 420 min vs 503 min, p = 0.021). Blood loss consistently decreased throughout the three phases (p = 0.001). The rate of incomplete cytoreduction was significantly lower in phase 3 than in phase 2 (4.8% vs 14.6%, p = 0.043). Conclusion: The CRS failure rate stabilized after the first 99 cases, and the complete surgical proficiency was achieved after 189 cases. A standardised and mentored learning model is a safer strategy to shorten the learning process, to reduce morbidity and mortality, to improve oncologic outcomes.

Learning Curve for Laparoscopic Pancreaticoduodenectomy: a CUSUM Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD), an advanced minimally invasive technique, has demonstrated advantages to open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD). However, this complex procedure requires a relatively long training period to ensure technical proficiency. This study was therefore designed to analyze the learning curve for LPD. METHODS: From October 2010 to September 2015, 63 standard pancreaticoduodenectomy procedures were to be performed laparoscopically by a single surgeon at the Department of Pancreatic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, China. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 57 patients were included in the study. Data for all the patients, including preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables, were prospectively collected and analyzed. The learning curve for LPD was evaluated using both cumulative sum (CUSUM) and risk-adjusted CUSUM (RA-CUSUM) methods. All of the variables among the learning curve phases were compared. RESULTS: Based on the CUSUM and the RA-CUSUM analyses, the learning curve for LPD was grouped into three phases: phase I was the initial learning period (cases 1-11), phase II represented the technical competence period (cases 12-38), and phase III was regarded as the challenging period (cases 39-57). The operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative ICU demand significantly decreased with the learning curve. More lymph nodes were collected after the initial learning period. There were no significant differences in terms of postoperative complications or the 30-day mortality among the three phases. More challenging cases were encountered in phase III. CONCLUSIONS: According to this study, the learning curve for LPD consisted of three phases. Conservatively, to attain technical competence for performing LPD, a minimum of 40 cases are required for laparoscopic surgeons with a degree of laparoscopic experience.

Systematic methods for measuring outcomes: How they may be used to improve outcomes after Radical cystectomy.

In the era of managed healthcare, the measuring and reporting of surgical outcomes is a universal mandate. The outcomes should be monitored and reported in a timely manner. Methods for measuring surgical outcomes should be continuous, free of bias and accommodate variations in patient factors. The traditional methods of surgical audits are periodic, resource-intensive and have a potential for bias. These audits are typically annual and therefore there is a long time lag before any effective remedial action could be taken. To reduce this delay the manufacturing industry has long used statistical control-chart monitoring systems, as they offer continuous monitoring and are better suited to monitoring outcomes systematically and promptly. The healthcare industry is now embracing such systematic methods. Radical cystectomy (RC) is one of the most complex surgical procedures. Systematic methods for measuring outcomes after RC can identify areas of improvements on an ongoing basis, which can be used to initiate timely corrective measures. We review the available methods to improve the outcomes. Cumulative summation charts have the potential to be a robust method which can prompt early warnings and thus initiate an analysis of root causes. This early-warning system might help to resolve the issue promptly with no need to wait for the report of annual audits. This system can also be helpful for monitoring learning curves for individuals, both in training or when learning a new technology.