Journal
SURGICAL ENDOSCOPY AND OTHER INTERVENTIONAL TECHNIQUES
Volume 21, Issue 1, Pages 28-33Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s00464-005-0634-3
Keywords
learning curve; laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy; early gastric cancer; cumulative sum method; CUSUM
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Background: Laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy (LAG) is a complex and time-consuming procedure, which is increasingly used for early gastric cancer (EGC). We provide a multidimensional analysis of the learning curve in LAG. Methods: Cumulative sum method was used to analyze outcomes of 109 patients undergoing LAG for EGC by one surgeon over a two year period; the influence of patient selection was evaluated. Target failure rate was set at 10%, with failure defined as open conversion, mortality, major morbidity, residual tumor, or inappropriate lymphadenectomy. Results: There were 19 failures-fourteen performance and five oncologic. The learning curve, which displayed a slight rising trend and three phases was achieved after 40 cases with selected patients; it was broken, however, by the introduction of advanced procedures and unselected patients. Conclusions: Advanced procedures and broad indications in LAG should be delayed until a learning curve is completed under the target failure rate.
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