Our experience with early integration of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in surgical residency training

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is now a method of choice in treating symptomatic cholelithiasis. The aim of this study was to assess an early integration of surgical residents into performing laparoscopic cholecystectomies and the significance of the integration for their training. Since February 1992 laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has been performed in our institutions. During the 1st year 253 LCs were done by 4 surgeons--2 residents (in postgraduate years 3 and 4) and 2 staff surgeons; the 2nd year the team was extended and 301 LCs were performed. The residents operated on 364 cases (66%); the overall conversion rate was 5.4%; in the group of patients operated by residents (R) it was 3.8%; in the group operated by staff surgeons (SS) it was 8.4%. The complication rates did not exceed literature reports. The overall complication rate was 3.4%, in the "R" group 3.0% and in the "SS" group 4.2%. It may be concluded that surgical residents can perform LC without additional complications after initial experience with the open technique and appropriate hands-on laboratory training period before starting LC. Continuous training in advanced open biliary procedures should be assured for senior surgical residents.