[Learning curve and iatrogenic injuries in laparoscopic cholecystectomies]

The aim of this study is to analyze surgeon's proficiency, based on the different aspects of his learning curve as a risk factor for iatrogenic biliary tract injuries associated with Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

a retrospective study was conducted using the report information from charts of patients January 1992 through December 2007; at Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Analysis from data collected from charts of 2285 patients who had undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomies. Data from surgeons involved with this type of surgery was also analyzed.

a total of six injuries (0.26%) were found. This result is similar to that found in international publications. All injuries had occurred in the surgeon's second phase of the learning curve with more than 50 video surgeries.

it was conclude that Video surgery Certificate and previous training are not related to biliary tract injuries in this series. Surgeon's age was not a risk factor in this study. There was statistical significance between surgeons' experience and injuries.