Comprehensive Learning Curve of Robotic Surgery: Discovery From a Multicenter Prospective Trial of Robotic Gastrectomy

Objective: To evaluate the complication-based learning curve and identify learning-associated complications of robotic gastrectomy. Summary Background Data: With the increased popularity of robotic surgery, a sound understanding of the learning curve in the surgical outcome of robotic surgery has taken on great importance. However, a multicenter prospective study analyzing learning-associated morbidity has never been conducted in robotic gastrectomy. Methods: Data on 502 robotic gastrectomy cases were prospectively collected from 5 surgeons. Risk-adjusted cumulative sum analysis was applied to visualize the learning curve of robotic gastrectomy on operation time and complications. Results: Twenty-five cases, on average, were needed to overcome complications and operation time-learning curve sufficiently to gain proficiency in 3 surgeons. An additional 23 cases were needed to cross the transitional phase to progress from proficiency to mastery. The moderate complication rate (CD ≥ grade II) was 20% in phase 1 (cases 1–25), 10% in phase 2 (cases 26–65), 26.1% in phase 3 (cases 66–88), and 6.4% in phase 4 (cases 89–125) (P
Source: Annals of Surgery - Category: Surgery Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: research