title: Single-Incision Laparoscopic Appendectomy by Surgical Trainees.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Single-incision laparoscopic appendectomy (SILA) is one of the most commonly performed single port surgeries in the world. However, there are few publications documenting a young resident's experience. The purpose of this study is to investigate clinical outcomes of SILA performed by a surgical trainee and to evaluate its feasibility and safety compared with conventional three-port laparoscopic appendectomy (TPLA) when performed by a surgical trainee and SILA by surgical staff.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between September 2014 and August 2015, clinical data were retrospectively collected for SILA and TPLA cases performed at Chung-Ang University Hospital. Three surgical residents who have assisted at least 50 cases of TPLA and 30 cases of SILA performed by gastrointestinal surgery specialists performed the surgeries. The indication of SILA by surgical trainees was noncomplicated appendicitis with no comorbidity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 47 patients underwent SILA by surgical residents, 98 patients underwent TPLA by surgical residents and 137 patients underwent SILA by surgical staff. In comparing SILA and TPLA performed by surgical residents, the mean age was younger (26 vs. 41 y, P<0.005) in the SILA group, the operative time (47.2 vs. 61.5 min, P<0.010) and hospital stay (2.3 vs. 2.7 d, P=0.003) were shorter in SILA group. In the SILA group, 2 cases of postoperative fluid collection (5.7%) occurred, necessitating antibiotic treatment. In TPLA group, 1 postoperative abscess occurred, requiring drainage. When comparing SILA performed by surgical residents and SILA performed by surgical staff, there were no significant differences in operation time, and postoperative complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical residents safely performed SILA with good postoperative outcomes after short learning curve.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Gyun
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Hee Joo
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: Beom Gyu
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Joong-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Yoo-Shin
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Yong Keum
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Seung Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000601:surgery*; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D059032:Learning Curve; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies