Surgical skill in bariatric surgery: Does skill in one procedure predict outcomes for another?
Recent data establish a strong link between peer video ratings of surgical skill and clinical outcomes with laparoscopic gastric bypass. Whether skill for one bariatric procedure can predict outcomes for another related procedure is unknown.



Twenty surgeons voluntarily submitted videos of a standard laparoscopic gastric bypass procedure, which was blindly rated by 10 or more peers using a modified version of the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills. Surgeons were divided into quartiles for skill in performing gastric bypass, and within 30 days of sleeve gastrectomy, their outcomes were compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was utilized to adjust for patient risk factors.



Surgeons with skill ratings in the top (n = 5), middle (n = 10, middle 2 combined), and bottom (n = 5) quartiles for laparoscopic gastric bypass saw similar rates of surgical and medical complications after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (top 5.7%, middle 6.4%, bottom 5.5%, P = .13). Furthermore, surgeons' skill ratings did not correlate with rates of reoperation, readmission, and emergency department visits. Top-rated surgeons had significantly faster operating room times for sleeve gastrectomy (top 76 minutes, middle 90 minutes, bottom 88 minutes; P < .001) and a higher annual volume of bariatric cases per year (top 240, middle 147, bottom 105; P = .001).



Video ratings of surgical skill with laparoscopic gastric bypass do not predict outcomes of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Evaluation of surgical skill with one procedure may not apply to other related procedures and may require independent assessment of surgical technical proficiency.
Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Health Systems, Ann Arbor, MI. Electronic address: ovarban@med.umich.edu.
Oliver A
OA
Varban
Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI.
Caprice C
CC
Greenberg
Department of Surgery, Spectrum Health Medical Group, MI.
Jon
J
Schram
Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Health Systems, Ann Arbor, MI; Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; Ann Arbor VA Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI.
Amir A
AA
Ghaferi
Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
Joythi R
JR
Thumma
Wayne State University and Department of Surgery, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI.
Arthur M
AM
Carlin
Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Health Systems, Ann Arbor, MI; Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
Justin B
JB
Dimick
D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D015391:Gastroplasty / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014741:Video Recording