Learning Curves and Surgical Outcomes of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Performed by an Attending Surgeon and Trainee Surgeons

Background: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is a commonly performed procedure for bariatric and metabolic surgery. However, few reports exist concerning the learning curves and surgical outcomes of LSG among trainee surgeons. This study aimed to investigate the learning curves and surgical outcomes of LSG for one attending surgeon and trainee surgeons.

Methods: In this study, 90 patients who underwent LSG were retrospectively evaluated. Surgical learning curves for the attending and the trainees were assessed via cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis. After the attending reached the learning phase, the trainees performed LSG under the guidance of the attending. Surgical and postoperative outcomes were compared retrospectively.

Results: The CUSUM plot of the attending peaked in the 16th case, began to decrease and reached a plateau in the 49th case. Therefore, we defined the attending in Phase I up to 16 LSGs (n = 16; learning phase), in phase II between 27 and 48 LSGs (n = 22; acquisition phase), and in Phase III from 49 or more LSGs (n = 29; plateau phase). The CUSUM of the trainees' operative time declined from the beginning. The median operative time was significantly shorter in the trainees than in the attending in Phase I (184 [146-266] vs. 161 [111-255], p < 0.01). %EWL was significantly better in the patients of the trainees than in those of the attending (92.4 ± 35.7 vs. 71.0 ± 28.7, p < 0.01). These results indicate that trainees could perform LSG in a stable manner.

Conclusion: Under the guidance of experienced surgeons, LSG can be safely performed by trainees without prolonged surgical time.