Multidimensional analysis of the learning curve for laparoscopic resection in rectal cancer

In Ja Park, Gyu Seog Choi, Kyoung Hoon Lim, Byung Mo Kang, Soo Han Jun

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

83 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: We attempted to assess the learning curve for laparoscopic resection for rectal cancer. Method: We included 381 patients who underwent laparoscopic resection for rectal cancer between December 2002 and December 2007. The operative experience was divided into four periods according to numbers of operations and significant changes in main surgical results. Results: Operative time decreased significantly after 90 operations. The overall anastomotic leakage rate was 3.7%; 14.6% for the first 50 patients and 5.4% for the following 40 patients. The overall conversion rate was 2.9%, 4-6% during the first and second periods, but decreasing thereafter. The number of harvested lymph nodes and distal resection margin was within an acceptable range during the entire period. For the patients with stage I-III tumors, the local recurrence rate was 4.4% and the overall recurrence rate was 22.9%. The local recurrence rate was 8.9% initially and decreasing to 1.4% after the second period. The cumulative incidence of local recurrence decreased to less than 7% after 120 patients and to less than 5% after 180 cases. Conclusion: The learning curve for laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer changed over time. Moreover, the learning curve for oncological safety was longer than that for operative safety.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)275-281
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Gastrointestinal Surgery
Volume13
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2009

Keywords

  • Laparoscopic
  • Learning curve
  • Rectal cancer

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