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Learning curve for laparoscopic cholecystectomy has not been defined: A systematic review
Elisa Reitano1, Nicola de'Angelis2, Elena Schembari3
1Division of General Surgery, Department of Translational Medicine, Maggiore della Carità Hospital, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy.
ANZ Journal of Surgery
|June 28, 2021
Summary
The learning curve for laparoscopic cholecystectomy is unclear due to inconsistent study methods. Developing clear guidelines for surgical learning curve research is crucial for reliable data on this common procedure.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Education
- Medical Procedure Analysis
Background:
- Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a globally prevalent surgical procedure.
- The learning curve associated with this surgery remains poorly defined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review existing literature on the learning curve of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
- To identify inconsistencies and limitations in current research methodologies.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review adhering to PRISMA 2009 guidelines.
- Literature search across Medline, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar.
- Quality assessment using Newcastle-Ottawa and GRADE scales.
Main Results:
- Nine cohort studies (1991-2020) were analyzed, exhibiting significant heterogeneity.
- Most studies (77.7%) focused solely on intraoperative variables, neglecting patient and surgeon factors.
- Only 55% of studies provided specific proficiency cut-offs, ranging widely from 13 to 200 cases.
Conclusions:
- Divergent and heterogeneous results stem from a lack of standardized guidelines for assessing surgical learning curves.
- Establishing clear guidelines for investigating and reporting surgical learning curves is essential for objective and reliable data acquisition, particularly for common procedures like laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
