title: Laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy as a training procedure for surgeons learning laparoscopic hepatectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laparoscopic liver resection remains limited to a relatively small number of institutions because of insufficient hepatic and laparoscopic surgical experience and few training opportunities. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and safety of an improved laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy technique as a training procedure for new surgeons.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomies (LLLSs) were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into 3 groups with 8 patients in each: those undergoing surgery by expert surgeons prior to 2008 (Group A); those undergoing surgery by expert surgeons after 2008, when a standardized LLLS technique was adopted (Group B); and those undergoing LLLS by junior surgeons being trained (Group C).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median operative time was significantly shorter for Group B (103 min; range, 99-109 min) and C (107 min; range, 85-135 min) patients than for Group A (153 min; range, 95-210 min) patients. There were no significant differences in blood loss or hospital stay. In Groups B and C, no conversions to open laparotomy or complications occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The standardized LLLS procedure was both safe and feasible as a technique for training surgeons in laparoscopic hepatectomy.
authors: Department of Surgery, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, 19-1, Uchimaru, Morioka city, Iwate 020-8505, Japan.
authors: Yasushi
authors: Y
authors: Hasegawa
authors: Hiroyuki
authors: H
authors: Nitta
authors: Akira
authors: A
authors: Sasaki
authors: Takeshi
authors: T
authors: Takahara
authors: Naoko
authors: N
authors: Ito
authors: Tomohiro
authors: T
authors: Fujita
authors: Shoji
authors: S
authors: Kanno
authors: Satoshi
authors: S
authors: Nishizuka
authors: Go
authors: G
authors: Wakabayashi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000193:education*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome