Effects of surgical laparoscopic experience on the short-term postoperative outcome of rectal cancer: results of a high volume single center institution.

Abstract The purpose of the study was to assess the effects of the surgeon's learning curve on the short-term outcome of laparoscopic resections performed for rectal cancer. A total of 284 patients who underwent laparoscopic resection for rectal cancer performed by 3 different surgical teams between 2005 and 2008 were included in the study. The operative experience was represented by the team's previous surgical case numbers (frequency). Four skill levels were categorized as follows: Level 1: the first 60 cases, Level 2: 61 to 120 cases, Level 3: 121 to 180 cases, and Level 4:>180 cases. Characteristics of the patients, perioperative variables, and the experience levels of the surgeons were analyzed and compared. To investigate the learning curve, we used the following parameters: duration of operative time, conversion rates, general complications, anastomotic leak rates, and oncologic parameters. Operative time gradually decreased with increasing experience. The mean operative times for Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 were 195.0+/-46.7, 181.7+/-34.2, and 172.3+/-33.0 minutes, respectively, whereas the mean operative time for Level 4 was 151.3+/-27.7 minutes (P