Leveling the Learning Curve for Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery
Overview
General Surgery
Radiology
Affiliations
Background: The learning curve for laparoscopic bariatric surgery is associated with increased morbidity and mortality.
Methods: The study included the first 100 patients undergoing laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LGB) by a designated surgical team. Surgeon A operated as primary surgeon, with surgeon B assisting (Stage 1). Surgeon B learned LGB in stages: exposure and jejunojejunostomy (stage 2), gastric pouch (stage 3), gastrojejunostomy (stage 4), and sequence all steps (stage 5).
Results: Surgeon A achieved confidence with LGB after 20 cases and surgeon B after 25 cases (stage 2), 18 cases (stage 3), 21 cases (stage 4), and 16 cases (stage 5). Complications (8%) included small bowel obstruction (three); pulmonary embolus (two), and leak, stomal stenosis, and gastrogastric fistula (one each). There was a decreasing trend for operative duration, length of stay, and complications across the five stages (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: By transferring skills in stages, a laparoscopic bariatric program can be established with minimal morbidity and mortality.
Abokhozima A, El-Masry H, Hany M, Zidan M Obes Surg. 2025; 35(2):383-386.
PMID: 39826016 DOI: 10.1007/s11695-025-07683-1.
Lawani I, Costantino F, Imorou Souaibou Y, Morelli U, Dossou F, Keller P Int J Surg Case Rep. 2022; 94:107043.
PMID: 35658274 PMC: 9093008. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2022.107043.
Abdolhosseini M, Haj Mohamad Ebrahim Ketabforoush A, Parhizgar P, Tavallaei M Clin Med Insights Case Rep. 2022; 15:11795476221088494.
PMID: 35465626 PMC: 9021477. DOI: 10.1177/11795476221088494.
Wehrtmann F, de la Garza J, Kowalewski K, Schmidt M, Muller K, Tapking C Obes Surg. 2019; 30(2):640-656.
PMID: 31664653 DOI: 10.1007/s11695-019-04230-7.
Gutierrez M, Ditto R, Roy S J Robot Surg. 2018; 13(1):9-21.
PMID: 29744808 PMC: 6397135. DOI: 10.1007/s11701-018-0822-5.