Learning curve of adrenal vein sampling

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Interventional Radiology

Background:

• Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is crucial for diagnosing primary aldosteronism.
• Operator skill significantly impacts AVS success rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the learning curve of AVS procedures.
• To determine the number of cases needed for AVS proficiency.
• To provide a reference for standardized AVS training.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 120 patients undergoing AVS for primary aldosteronism.
• Cumulative sum analysis to assess the operator's learning curve.
• Comparison of AVS success rates, operation time, radiation dose, and complications across patient groups based on procedural experience.

Main Results:

• The learning curve indicated a mastery stage after 30 cases.
• AVS success rates increased from 66.7% in the initial stage to 96.7% in the final stage.
• Significant reductions in operation time and radiation dose, along with fewer complications, were observed after 30 cases.

Conclusions:

• Accumulating 30 AVS cases leads to improved outcomes, including shorter operation times, decreased radiation exposure, and reduced complications.
• The AVS learning curve plateaus after approximately 30 cases.
• Standardized training may further enhance AVS procedure success rates.