Analysis and clinical significance of learning curve pattern in laparoscopic appendectomy / 中华消化外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the change patterns of operation time of laparoscopic appendectomy and its significance. Methods The clinical data of 105 consecutive patients with appendicitis who received laparoscopic appendectomy at the Southwest Hospital from January 2007 to March 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Of the 105 patients, five were converted to open surgery, and they were excluded from this study.The changes in operation time of different surgeons were statistically analyzed to detect the change patterns of the learning curve in laparoscopic appendectomy. Results A hundred cases of laparoscopic appendectomy were successfully performed by three surgeons. The mean operation time was ( 87 ± 36 ) minutes ( range, 30-217 minutes). No surgical injury happened during the operation, and the blood loss was under 10 ml. The learning curve of operation time was presented as a sine curve with an oscillating decreasing trend. The primary two cycles end at an average of 9.6 cases, which could be used as the end point of the learning curve of laparoscopic appendectomy. Conclusions The learning curve of laparoscopic appendectomy shows a typical oscillating decreasing trend. The preliminary study ends when 9.6 cases of operation are completed.