Single-Incision Laparoscopic Appendectomy by Surgical Trainees

Area of Science:

• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Surgical Education
• Gastrointestinal Surgery

Background:

• Single-incision laparoscopic appendectomy (SILA) is a common minimally invasive procedure.
• Limited data exists on surgical residents' experience with SILA.
• This study evaluates resident-performed SILA against conventional methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate clinical outcomes of SILA performed by surgical trainees.
• To compare the feasibility and safety of resident-performed SILA versus trainee-performed three-port laparoscopic appendectomy (TPLA).
• To compare resident-performed SILA with staff-performed SILA.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective data collection from September 2014 to August 2015 at Chung-Ang University Hospital.
• Three surgical residents performed SILA and TPLA for uncomplicated appendicitis.
• Comparison groups included resident-performed SILA, resident-performed TPLA, and staff-performed SILA.

Main Results:

• Resident-performed SILA had younger patients, shorter operative times (47.2 min vs. 61.5 min), and shorter hospital stays (2.3 d vs. 2.7 d) compared to resident-performed TPLA.
• Postoperative complications were comparable between resident-performed SILA (5.7% fluid collection) and TPLA (1 abscess).
• No significant differences in outcomes were observed between resident- and staff-performed SILA.

Conclusions:

• Surgical residents can safely perform SILA with a short learning curve.
• SILA demonstrates favorable postoperative outcomes when performed by trainees.
• SILA is a feasible and safe option for surgical residents in treating uncomplicated appendicitis.