Personal experience of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
OBJECTIVE
We performed laparoscopic cholecystectomy with a surgical team consisting of the same operator and the same first assistant to evaluate a personal learning curve of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.


METHODS
In the 135 patients who underwent the laparoscopic cholecystectomy, operative complications, postoperative complications and operative time were evaluated on the basis of using different camera assistants and the chronological advancement of the same operator and the same first assistant.


RESULTS
The average operative time was 120 +/- 54 minutes. The operative time was statistically longer in the first ten cases. The major complication during operation, which was ligation of the common bile duct, occurred in the 7th case. The other operative complications, such as minor bile duct injury or mild bleeding, occurred occasionally in spite of experience or inexperience; the operative complications, however, tended to occur under the same camera assistant. On the other hand, the operative time was not related to the use of different camera assistants.


CONCLUSIONS
From the personal learning curve of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, operative time is relatively longer in the early 10 cases. Complications tend to occur under the same camera assistant.
Kakizoe
Saburo
S
Department of Surgery, Ilikai Medical INC. Kakizoe Hospital, Hirado, Nagasaki, Japan. saburo-k@kakizoehospital.or.jp
Kakizoe
Yumiko
Y
Guntani
Atushi
A
Kabashima
Akira
A
Kakizoe
Hiroshi
H
Sadamatsu
Kenji
K
Kakizoe
Tamako
T
Kakizoe
Keiji
K
D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000193:education* / Q000295:instrumentation; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D009726:Nurses; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010820:Physicians; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors