Effect of the Endoscopic Surgical Skill Qualification System for Colorectal Cancer Surgery With Multivisceral...

Area of Science:

• Surgical Oncology
• Gastrointestinal Surgery
• Medical Education and Training

Background:

• Laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery outcomes are linked to surgeon expertise.
• The impact of Endoscopic Surgery Skills Qualification System (ESSQS) certification on multivisceral resection (MVR) prognosis is not well-defined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the influence of ESSQS-qualified surgeons on patient prognosis following MVR for colorectal cancer.
• To compare outcomes between MVR performed by ESSQS-certified and uncertified surgeons.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 226 colorectal cancer patients undergoing MVR (2016-2024).
• Comparison of ESSQS-certified (expert, n=88) versus uncertified (non-expert, n=138) surgeon groups.
• Propensity score matching created 65-patient cohorts for robust comparison of survival outcomes (5-year RFS, OS, LRFS).

Main Results:

• The expert group showed a trend towards better 5-year relapse-free survival (74.8% vs. 63.1%), overall survival (83.3% vs. 64.4%), and local recurrence-free survival (3.5% vs. 11.4%).
• Higher incidence of rectal cancer and more frequent use of laparoscopic surgery were noted in the expert group prior to matching.
• While not statistically significant, survival metrics favored the ESSQS-certified surgeon group.

Conclusions:

• ESSQS-qualified surgeons appear to achieve better short- and long-term outcomes in MVR for colorectal cancer.
• Surgeon certification through systems like ESSQS may be a valuable indicator of surgical quality and patient prognosis in complex procedures.