Journal of Chest Surgery

The Korean Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (대한심장혈관흉부외과학회)
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Trainees Can Safely Learn Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery Lobectomy despite Limited Experience in Open Lobectomy

  • Yu, Woo Sik (Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Chang Young (Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Seokkee (Department of Thoracic Surgery, Armed Forces Capital Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Do Jung (Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine) ;
  • Chung, Kyung Young (Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine)
  • Received : 2014.07.16
  • Accepted : 2014.11.07
  • Published : 2015.04.05
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Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to establish whether pulmonary lobectomy using video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) can be safely performed by trainees with limited experience with open lobectomy. Methods: Data were retrospectively collected from 251 patients who underwent VATS lobectomy at a single institution between October 2007 and April 2011. The surgical outcomes of the procedures that were performed by three trainee surgeons were compared to the outcomes of procedures performed by a surgeon who had performed more than 150 VATS lobectomies. The cumulative failure graph of each trainee was used for quality assessment and learning curve analysis. Results: The surgery time, estimated blood loss, final pathologic stage, thoracotomy conversion rate, chest tube duration, duration of hospital stay, complication rate, and mortality rate were comparable between the expert surgeon and each trainee. Cumulative failure graphs showed that the performance of each trainee was acceptable and that all trainees reached proficiency in performing VATS lobectomy after 40 cases. Conclusion: This study shows that trainees with limited experience with open lobectomy can safely learn to perform VATS lobectomy for the treatment of lung cancer under expert supervision without compromising outcomes.

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References

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