title: Learning Curve in Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair: Experience at a Tertiary Care Centre.
abstract: One of the major reasons for laparoscopy not having gained popularity for repair of groin hernia is the perceived steep learning curve. This study was conducted to assess the learning curve and to predict the number of cases required for a surgeon to become proficient in laparoscopic groin hernia repair, by comparing two laparoscopic surgeons. The learning curve evaluation parameters included operative time, conversions, intraoperative complications and postoperative complications, and these were compared between the senior and the junior surgeon. One hundred thirty-eight cases were performed by the senior surgeon, and 63 cases by the junior surgeon. Both were comparable in terms of intraoperative and postoperative complications. Using the moving average method, minimum of 13 laparoscopic hernia repairs are required to reach at par the operating time of an experienced surgeon. For total extraperitoneal (TEP) repair, the number of cases was 14; and for transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) repair, this number was 13.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Disciplines, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Room No. 5021, 5th Floor Teaching Block, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Virinder Kumar
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Bansal
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Disciplines, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Room No. 5021, 5th Floor Teaching Block, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Asuri
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krishna
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Disciplines, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Room No. 5021, 5th Floor Teaching Block, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Mahesh C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Misra
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Disciplines, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Room No. 5021, 5th Floor Teaching Block, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Subodh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
keywords: Laparoscopy; Learning curve; Moving averages; TEP/TAPP repair