Purpose Since the introduction of robotic surgery, robots for colorectal cancer have replaced laparoscopic surgery, and a single-port robot (SPR) platform has been launched and is being used to treat patients. We analyzed the learning curve and initial complications of using an SPR platform in colorectal cancer surgery.
Methods We reviewed 39 patients who underwent SPR colectomy from April to October 2019. All surgeries were performed by the same surgeon using an SPR device. A learning curve was generated using the cumulative sum methodology to assess changes in total operation time, docking time, and surgeon console time. We grouped the patients into 3 groups according to the time period: the first 11 were phase 1, the next 11 were phase 2, and the last 17 were phase 3.
Results The mean age of the patients was 61.28±13.03 years, and they had a mean body mass index of 23.79±2.86 kg/m2. Among the patients, 23 (59.0%) were male, and 16 (41.0%) were female. The average operation time was 186.59±51.30 minutes, the average surgeon console time was 95.49±35.33 minutes, and the average docking time (time from skin incision to robot docking) was 14.87±10.38 minutes. The surgeon console time differed significantly among the different phases (P<0.001). Complications occurred in 8 patients: 2 ileus, 2 postoperation hemoglobin changes, 3 urinary retentions, and 1 complicated fluid collection.
Conclusion In our experience, the learning curve for SPR colectomy was achieved after the 18th case.
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Purpose We aimed to investigate the difference in the surgical outcome based on whether the assistant overcame the mirror image in laparoscopic colorectal surgery.
Methods Three hundred patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal surgery performed by single operator were divided into 2 groups. Based on the assistants’ experience, patients who underwent surgery involving 1 of 6 residents with an experience of fewer than 30 surgeries each were classified into group 1. Patients who underwent surgery involving a single fellow as an assistant with an experience of over 1,000 surgeries were classified into group 2. According to the type of surgery, patients were divided into left and right colon resection groups and the surgical outcome of groups 1 and 2 was investigated.
Results Group 2 exhibited shorter operation time, less bleeding, shorter postoperative hospital stay, lower open conversion, and anastomotic leakage rate than group 1. In right colon resection, the operation time was shorter in group 2. In left colon resection, group 2 exhibited shorter operation time, less bleeding, shorter postoperative hospital stay, and lower anastomotic leakage rate. In the multivariate analysis, the assistant was a factor affecting the operation time in the entire surgery.
Conclusion Assistants’ reverse alignment surgical skill proficiency was a factor affecting the operation time.
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Purpose To delineate the learning curve (LC) for laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) performed by residents according to seniority in training.
Methods Between October 2015 and November 2016, 150 patients underwent LA by three residents (in their first, second, and third year of training) under supervision. The patients were non-randomly assigned to each resident. The data were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively from prospectively collected database. The perioperative outcomes were compared between the three residents including operation time, complication, conversion, and so on. The LCs were evaluated by the moving average method and cumulative sum control chart (CUSUM) for operation time and surgical completion.
Results Baseline characteristics and perioperative outcomes were similar except for age and location of the appendix among the three groups. Operation time was not different among the three residents (43.9, 45.3, and 48.4 min for A, B, and C, respectively). The moving average method for operation time showed a decreasing tendency for all residents. CUSUM for operation time showed that the peak points occurred at the 24th, 18th, and 31st cases for resident A, B, and C, respectively. In terms of surgical failure, residents A, B, and C reached steady states after the 35th, 11th, and 16th cases, respectively. Perforation of the appendix base was the only risk factor for surgical failure.
Conclusion The LC for LA by residents was 11-35 cases according to multidimensional statistical analyses. The accumulation of surgical experience of residents might affect the LC, especially for surgical completion rather than for operation time.
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The laparoscopic appendectomy has been a basic part of the principal of a more complex laparoscopic technique for the surgical trainee. As the number of laparoscopic appendectomies performed by surgical trainees has increased, we are trying to check the stability of, which is controversial, and the learning curve associated with a laparoscopic appendectomy.
Methods
We studied the demographics, histologic diagnoses, operative time, the number of complicated cases, and hospital duration of one hundred and three patients who underwent an open appendectomy (group A, 53) or a laparoscopic appendectomy (group B, 50) retrospectively through a review of their medical records. The learning curve for the laparoscopic appendectomy was established through the moving average and ANOVA methods.
Results
There were no differences in the operative times (A, 64.15 ± 29.88 minutes; B, 58.2 ± 20.72 minutes; P-value, 0.225) and complications (A, 11%; B, 6%; P-value, 0.34) between group A and group B. Group B was divided into group C who underwent the operation in the early period (before the learning curve) and group D who underwent the operation in the later period (after the learning curve). The average operative time for group C was 66.83 ± 21.55 minutes, but it was 45.25 ± 10.19 minutes for group D (P-value < 0.0001). Although this difference was statistically significant, no significant difference in the complication rate was observed between the two groups.
Conclusion
A laparoscopic appendectomy, compared with an open appendectomy, performed by a surgical trainee is safe. In this study, the learning curve for a laparoscopic appendectomy was thirty cases.
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PURPOSE The present study aimed to investigate the safety and the feasibility of laparoscopic colorectal surgery performed by a surgeon during a learning period. METHODS: Between April and December 2008, 101 consecutive patients with colorectal cancers underwent laparoscopic surgery by one colorectal surgeon who previously had no experience with laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Standard laparoscopy with a lymphadenectomy using a 5-port technique was performed according to the tumor location. The patients were divided into two chronological groups: 50 cases early in learning period (early cases) and 51 cases later in the learning period (late cases). RESULTS: The operations were 29 right hemicolectomies, 9 left hemicolectomies, 18 anterior resections, 35 low anterior resections, 6 intersphincteric resections, 2 abdominoperineal resections, and 2 Hartmann's operation. There were 7 conversions (6.9%). The median operating time was 205 (range, 95-385) min, and the median blood loss was 258 (50-800) mL. The median times to flatus per anus and to feeding of soft diet were 2 (1-5) and 4 (2-13) days, respectively. The median hospital stay was 9 (6-27) days. There were 21 postoperative complications, including 7 anastomotic complications (3 leakages, 3 abscesses, and 1 stenosis). The median number of lymph nodes harvested was 20 (4-65). The operating time, blood loss, and complication rates were significantly decreased in the late group. CONCLUSION: Our initial experience with laparoscopic colorectal surgery appears to have acceptable perioperative results and short-term oncologic outcomes, which improved with the experience of the surgeon.
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Initial experience of a surgical fellow in laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery under training protocol and supervision: comparison of short-term results for 70 early cases (under supervision) and 73 late cases (without supervision) Ji-Hun Kim, In-Kyu Lee, Won-kyung Kang, Seung-Teak Oh, Jun-Gi Kim, Yoon-Suk Lee Surgical Endoscopy.2013; 27(8): 2900. CrossRef
Purpose Laparoscopic colorectal surgery is technically demanding and needs a longer learning curve than open surgery. HALS (hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery) is a useful alternative to conventional laparoscopic surgery (CLS) because of its palpability and hand dissection. We compared the learning curves between HALS and CLS for colorectal surgery. Methods: A prospective study without randomization was conducted with the participation of two colorectal surgeons who had not experienced a laparoscopic colorectal operation. The collected data included operative features, oncologic outcomes, and early clinical outcomes.
Fifty patients were enrolled in each group, the HALS group and the CLS group. Results: None of the operations converted to open surgery. The operative time was significantly shorter in the HALS group than in the CLS group (149.6+/-34.6 minutes versus 179.1+/-36.5 minutes, P<0.001).
On a subgroup analysis of the operative time in the anterior resection, the operative time was consistent after the 13th operation in HALS group. However, in CLS group, there was a continuous fluctuation of the operative time until 25 cases.
In regard to the oncologic outcome, the numbers of total harvested lymph nodes and the proximal and the distal margins in the anterior resection showed no statistical differences (P=0.400, P=0.908, and P=0.073, respectively).
The early clinical results were similar in both groups. Conclusions In the learning curve study, the HALS group had a shorter operative time and reached a learning curve plateau earlier than the CLS group. Other parameters, such as the oncologic results and the early postoperative clinical outcomes, showed no differences between the two groups.
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Comparison and short-term outcomes between hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery and conventional laparoscopic surgery for anterior resections of left-sided colon cancer Hae Ran Yun, Yong Kwon Cho, Yong Beom Cho, Hee Cheol Kim, Seong Hyeon Yun, Woo Yong Lee, Ho-Kyung Chun International Journal of Colorectal Disease.2010; 25(8): 975. CrossRef
Purpose The aim of this study was to review our experience with laparoscopic-assisted colectomy (LACs), and to evaluate its feasibility and safety for surgical treatment of colorectal diseases, including cancer. Methods: Between September 2002 and September 2005, a LAC was performed in 58 patients. Of these, 6 cases of conversion to open colectomy were excluded from the analysis. Fifty conventional open colectomy (OCs) with clinicopathologic characteristics comparable to those of the LACs were selected and matched as a control group for comparative analysis regarding short-term oncologic and perioperative outcomes. The mean follow-up period was 13.8 (2~37) months. Results: Thirteen complications, involving 11 patients, occurred. The mean operative time of the LAC was longer than that of the OC (215 min vs. 179 min; P<0.0001). However, earlier restoration of bowel function was achieved in the LAC as measured by postoperative first flatus (2.8 days vs. 3.8 days) and intake of a clear liquid diet (4.7 days vs. 5.8 days). There was no significant difference in hospital stay (LAC vs. OC, 10.2 days vs. 11.8 days). In patients with malignancy, the proximal resection margin in the LAC was significantly shorter than that in the OC (9.2 cm vs. 13.3 cm; P<0.0001). However, there were no significant differences in the mean numbers of harvested lymph nodes (LAC vs. OC, 16.6 vs. 19.3; P=0.4330) and the mean distal resection margins (LAC vs. OC, 6.9 cm vs. 6.0 cm; P=0.1359).
There were 3 distant metastases and one local recurrence during follow-up in the LAC group, but no port-site recurrence. Conclusions: In this study, we could not receive an advantage of shorter hospital stay due to the relatively high complication rate for a LAC, which may reflect a learning curve. Earlier postoperative recovery of bowel function and equal pathologic extent of resection in the LAC suggest that the LAC is an acceptable alternative procedure in the treatment of colorectal diseases, including malignancy. More experience with the LAC is necessary to overcome the learning curve. Affirmative long-term oncologic outcomes of are expected for the LAC.
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PURPOSE The aim of this study is to assess the pathologic surgical outcome and short-term outcome of a laparoscopic colorectal resection at an early time on the learning curve in comparison with open surgery. METHODS Retrospectively collected data were obtained on 49 patients who underrent a laparoscopic sigmoid colon and rectal cancer resection between May 2001 and January 2006.
The compared factors were the clinicopathologic characteristics, the operation time, the postoperative recovery, and complications. RESULTS There were no significant differences in age, sex, TNM stage, and tumor size between the laparoscopic and open-surgery groups. The operation time was significantly longer in the laparoscopic group (291.4 vs. 201.9 min P < 0.001). In the view point of postoperative recovery, the laparoscopic group showed a significant advantage in the passage of flatus. There were no significant differences in harvested LNs, proximal margin, and distal margin between the two groups. The complication rate was not significantly different, but anastomotic leakage was higher in the laparoscopic group (16.7% vs. 2%, P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS There were no significant differences in harvested LNs, proximal margin, and distal margin between the two groups, but anastomotic leakage was higher in the laparoscopic group.
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Short-Term Outcome of Curative One-Stage Laparoscopic Resection for Obstructive Left-Sided Colon Cancers Followed by Stent Insertion: Comparative Study with Non-Obstructive Left-Sided Colon Cancers Hyun Sil Kim, Sung Geun Kim, Chang Hyuk Ahn, Won Kyung Kang, Yun Seok Lee, In Kyu Lee, Hyung-Jin Kim, Sang Cheol Lee, Hyeon Min Cho, Jong Kyung Park, Seong Taek Oh, Jun-Gi Kim Journal of the Korean Society of Coloproctology.2009; 25(6): 417. CrossRef
PURPOSE After the final report of Clinical Outcomes of Surgical Therapy (COST) study group, the application of laparoscopic surgery in colon cancer a spread widely.
However, laparoscopic surgery in the rectum is still regarded as a complicated procedure to start due to technical difficulties and a steep learning curve. The aim of this study was to show the safety and technical feasibility of a laparoscopic low anterior resection at an early time on the learning curve in comparison with open low anterior resection. METHODS The learning curves of one colorectal surgeon in open and laparoscopic low anterior resections were retrospectively compared. The compared factors were clinicopathologic characteristics, operation time, and the factors associated with postoperative recovery, morbidity and mortality. RESULTS There were no significant differences in age or sex between two groups. The operation time was significantly longer in the laparoscopy group (P<0.001) In the view point of postoperative recovery, the laparoscopy group showed significant advantages in hospital stay (P<0.001), the passage of flatus (P<0.001), the number of analgesics used (P=0.03), and the removal of foley catheter (P=0.001). There were no conversions in the laparoscopy group, and the complication rate was lower in the laparoscopy group (10.7% vs. 17.6%). There was no postoperative mortality in either group. CONCLUSIONS Even though the operation time was significantly longer in the laparoscopy group, a laparoscopic low anterior resection appears to have some benefits in postoperative recovery and morbidity. In terms of surgical outcomes, a laparoscopic low anterior resection can be performed safely even in early times on the learning curve.