The Impact of Modified Two-Surgeon Technique for Laparoscopic Liver Resection on the Training of Surgeons-in-Training

Introduction Although laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) has gained widespread acceptance over the last decade, it is associated with a much steeper learning curve than other laparoscopic procedures. We currently perform a modified two-surgeon technique for LLR. We assessed the effect of our LLR technique on the surgical outcome and the learning curve of surgeons-in-training when pure non-anatomical LLR was performed. Methods Between 2017 and 2021, 118 LLRs were conducted at our institution, 42 of which were pure non-anatomical LLRs performed by five surgeons-in-training (with a career of 6-13 years). The perioperative outcomes of these cases were compared to those performed by the board-certified attending surgeon. Regarding the learning curve of surgeons-in-training, the duration of operation was used as an index of the proficiency level, and the number of surgical cases in which the surgeons reached the median duration of operation was examined. Results Mortality was zero, and neither postoperative bleeding nor bile leak was experienced in the whole cohort. There were no differences between surgeons-in-training and the board-certified surgeon in the duration of the operation, intraoperative blood loss, rate of postoperative complications, or length of postoperative stay (LOS). Among the operations performed by five surgeons-in-training, the rate of LLR with a difficulty score of 4 or higher was 52% (30%-75%). Concerning the learning curve, all five surgeons-in-training gradually shortened the duration of operation for each additional case and reached the median duration (218 minutes) by experiencing a median of five cases (3-8 cases). Conclusion A modified two-surgeon technique during LLR is feasible, with a relatively low number of cases (five cases) required to shorten the duration of operation in non-anatomical LLR. This technique is safe and beneficial to the education of surgeons-in-training.