Las estancias de formación con expertos mejoran los resultados en cirugía laparoscópica colorrectal

How to reduce the laparoscopic colorectal learning curve

Background:

The laparoscopic approach for colorectal pathologies is becoming more widely used, and surgeons have had to learn how to perform this new technique. The purpose of this work is to study the indicators of the learning curve for laparoscopic colectomy in a community hospital and to find when the group begins to improve.

Methodology:

From January 1 2005 to December 31 2012, 313 consecutive laparoscopic colorectal surgeries were performed (105 rectal and 208 colonic) by at least 60% of the same surgical team (6 members) in each operation. We evaluate the learning curve by moving averages and cumulative sums (CUSUM) for different variables related to the surgery outcomes.

Results:

Moving average curves for postoperative stay, fasting, and second step analgesia show a stabilizing trend toward improvement as we get more experience. However, intensive care unit stay, number of lymph nodes achieved, and operating time did not show a clear decreasing tendency. CUSUM curves of conversion, specimens <12 lymph nodes, and complications all show a clear turning point marked on all the charts around the procedure 60, accumulating a positive trend toward improvement. The CUSUM curve of the “learning variable” shows this improvement point at procedure 70.

Conclusions:

The laparoscopic colectomy learning curve accelerates with a collective team involvement in each procedure. The CUSUM and moving average curves are useful for initial and ongoing monitoring of new surgical procedures. The markers of the learning curve evidenced in our study are the conversion rate, postoperative surgical morbidity, and the number of patients with a lymph node count <12.

What is new in this paper?

The significance of this study is the evaluation of the learning curve, in laparoscopic colorectal surgery, of a surgical team in a community hospital, using moving average and CUSUM curves. This study demonstrated that the number of patients needed to achieve skilful practice decreased when there is collective team involvement in each procedure.

Impact of tutorial assistance in laparoscopic sigmoidectomy for acute recurrent diverticulitis

PURPOSE

Adequate training and close supervision by an experienced surgeon are crucial to assure the patient safety during laparoscopic training. This study evaluated the impact of tutorial assistance on the duration of surgery and postoperative complications after laparoscopic sigmoidectomy.

METHODS

The data from 235 patients undergoing laparoscopic sigmoidectomy were collected. Operating surgeons were classified as either residents/registrars (group A, tutorial assistance) or consultants operating autonomously (group B). Groups were compared concerning the duration of surgery and in-hospital complications using a multivariable regression model accounting for the most relevant confounders.

RESULTS

The median duration of the operation in group A (n = 75) was 221 min, and that in group B (n = 160) 189 min (p < 0.001). The risk of developing any in-hospital complication (Clavien-Dindo classification I-V) was 36.0 % in Group A and 32.5 % in group B (95 % CI -16.6, 9.6 %). The risk of developing moderate to severe surgical complications (Clavien-Dindo classification II-V) was 16.0 % in group A and 12.5 % in group B (95 % CI -13.3, 6.3 %).

CONCLUSIONS

We were unable to demonstrate a clear impact of tutorial assistance on the risk of postoperative complications. Although associated with a longer duration of surgery, laparoscopic sigmoidectomy for acute recurrent sigmoid diverticulitis conducted by a junior supervised surgeon appears to be a safe surgical modality.

[Effects of surgical simulation on the implementation of laparoscopic colorectal procedures]

INTRODUCTION

Advanced laparoscopic surgery requires supplementary training outside the operating room. Clinical simulation with animal models or cadavers facilitates this learning.

OBJECTIVE

We measured the impact on clinical practice of a laparoscopic colorectal resection training program based on surgical simulation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Between March 2007 and March 2012, 163 surgeons participated in 30 courses that lasted 4 days, of 35 hours (18 h in the operating room, 12h in animal models, and 4h in seminars). In May 2012, participants were asked via an on-line survey about the degree of implementation of the techniques in their day-to-day work.

RESULTS

Seventy surgeons (47%) from 60 different hospitals answered the survey. Average time elapsed after the course was 11.5 months (2-60 months). A total of 75% initiated or increased the number of surgeries performed after the training. The increase in practice was>10 cases/month in 19%, and<5 cases/month in 56% of surgeons. 38% of participants initiated this surgical approach.

CONCLUSIONS

Seventy five percent of the surveyed surgeons increased the clinical implementation of a complicated surgical technique, such as laparoscopic colorectal surgery, after attending a training course based on clinical simulation.

[Medium term results on introducing colorrectal laparoscopic surgery into clinical practice after having an intensive training course]

INTRODUCTION

Endoscopic surgery has characteristics that increase the difficulties of learning. Five years ago, an intensive colorectal laparoscopic surgery course was designed to offer training in the technical bases of this type of surgery. The aim of this article is to determine the impact of the colorectal surgery course on clinical practice, and to investigate the factors that limit its applicability and the training preferences of the surgeons.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twenty-two courses of four days duration, with 36 hours of lessons (4 in seminar form and 32 in the surgery), and with 7 trainees, were held between June 2005 and December 2010. A survey was sent out in December 2010 to assess the impact of the course on the colorectal laparoscopic surgery activity of the trainee, to find out the difficulties encountered in its application, and to evaluate the training expectations in endoscopic surgery in this group of surgeons.

RESULTS

The questionnaire was sent to 148 surgeons, with 74 (50%) responses received. The mean period after the course was 26.5 (2-60) months. A monthly increase of more than 5 cases was observed in 70% of the centres. The course enabled them to consolidate the activity in local hospitals, while in university and general hospitals it served to re-launch an initial experience. Among the obstacles that made it difficult to introduce were care load and the availability of a surgeon, particularly in general and university hospitals (P=.001), and in local hospitals it was the availability of patients. The majority of surgeons (70%) believed that specific training was required, preferring a short period in a hospital with experience.

CONCLUSIONS

An intensive course on colorectal laparoscopic surgery enabled the activity to be consolidated or increased in this area. Training in colorectal laparoscopic surgery requires additional teaching efforts, which are currently unstructured.