title: Factors influencing operation time of laparoscopy-assisted distal subtotal gastrectomy: analysis of consecutive 100 initial cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is little information on patient selection criteria for laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) that would facilitate a successful initial experience for a surgeon new to the procedure. This study aimed to establish patient selection criteria that will allow increased proficiency and shorter operation times for the LADG procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred LADG with lymphadenectomy and no other combined procedures were consecutively performed by one surgeon. These 100 consecutive LADG procedures were analyzed retrospectively from a prospectively designed computer database. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors influencing operation time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to univariate analysis, operation time was influenced by sex, BMI, surgical experience, and tumor location, whereas multivariate analysis indicated that operation time was significantly influenced only by BMI and surgical experience. The same analyses of only the first 50 cases showed that sex, BMI, surgical experience, and tumor location were independently associated with operation time. As BMI increased, so did operation time, whereas operation time decreased with increasing surgical experience.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that surgeons who have limited experience with this advanced procedure may shorten operation time by considering patient and tumor characteristics in their early attempts at LADG. With a shortened operation time, surgeon with limited experience may become proficient to LADG rapidly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Shinchon-dong Seodaemun-ku, Seoul 120-752, Republic of Korea. wjhyung@kornet.net
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Hyung
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Noh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome