The SAGES MASTERS program presents: the 10 seminal articles for the Laparoscopic Right Colectomy Pathway

Area of Science:

• Colorectal Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Surgical Education

Background:

• The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) Colorectal Pathway aims to advance surgeon skills through defined performance levels.
• Laparoscopic right colectomy is an anchoring procedure within this pathway, representing a key skill for competency, proficiency, and mastery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and summarize the top 10 seminal articles relevant to laparoscopic right colectomy.
• To provide surgeons with essential knowledge for advancing their skills in this procedure.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search identified highly cited articles on laparoscopic right colectomy.
• Expert consensus and review by the SAGES Colorectal Task Force ranked and selected the top 10 articles.
• Summaries focused on relevance, impact, findings, strengths, limitations, and conclusions.

Main Results:

• The selected articles cover diverse aspects of laparoscopic right colectomy.
• Key topics include surgical techniques for benign and malignant conditions, laparoscopic versus open colectomy outcomes, and learning curve assessments.
• Illustrations and variations in technique impacting outcomes are also discussed.

Conclusions:

• The top 10 articles provide a foundation for the SAGES Masters Program's Colorectal Pathway curriculum.
• These seminal works support the progression of practicing surgeons towards mastery in laparoscopic right colectomy.
• The curated content emphasizes the breadth of knowledge required for advanced colorectal surgical practice.