title: The learning curve of single-port laparoscopic appendectomy performed by emergent operation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Single-port laparoscopic appendectomy (SPLA) has the advantage of minimizing abdominal incision scars with patient satisfaction. However, it has the following disadvantages: it provides a narrower surgical field than conventional laparoscopic appendectomy, which requires a considerably longer operative time to achieve surgical skills. This study was conducted to evaluate the learning curve for SPLA.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included a total of 120 patients with acute abdomen who visited our emergency department and were diagnosed with acute appendicitis between March 2013 and February 2015. They underwent SPLA by a single surgeon. Patients were divided into 4 groups of 30 patients each according to operation dates. Operative time, time to resume oral intake, length of hospital stay, and postoperative complications were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean operative time was 59.9 ± 19.9 min. It was shortened after completion of 30 operations and remained unchanged until it was further shortened after completion of 90 operations. There was no significant difference in time to resumption of oral intake or length of hospital stay between the 4 groups. Postoperative complications occurred in 18 patients, but the frequency of the complications was not significantly different between the 4 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that surgeons can achieve surgical skills for SPLA after completion of 30 operations and more experienced surgical skills by SPLA successfully after completion of 90 operations.
authors: Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, 82, Gugwon-daero, Chungju-si, Chungbuk Republic of Korea.
authors: YongHun
authors: Y
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, 82, Gugwon-daero, Chungju-si, Chungbuk Republic of Korea.
authors: WooSurng
authors: W
authors: Lee
keywords: Appendectomy; Emergencies; Laparoscopy; Learning curve