The influence of learning curve of robot‐assisted laparoscopy on oncological outcomes in early‐stage cervical cancer: an observational cohort study

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the learning curve of robot‐assisted laparoscopy in early‐stage cervical cancer and quantify impact on oncological outcomes. DESIGN: Observational cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary referral centre with one surgical team. POPULATION: All women with early‐stage cervical cancer treated consecutively with robot‐assisted laparoscopy between 2007 and 2017. METHODS: With multivariate risk‐adjusted cumulative sum analysis (RA‐CUSUM), we assessed the learning curve of robot‐assisted laparoscopy of a single surgical team based on cervical cancer recurrence. Subsequently, a survival analysis was conducted comparing oncological outcomes of women treated during different phases of the learning curve. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Surgical proficiency based on recurrence, survival rates in the different learning phases. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty‐five women with cervical cancer underwent robot‐assisted laparoscopy, with a median follow up of 57 months (range 3–132 months). The RA‐CUSUM analysis demonstrated two phases of the learning curve: a learning phase of 61 procedures (group 1) and an experienced phase representing the 104 procedures thereafter (group 2). The 5‐year disease‐free survival was 80.2% in group 1 and 91.1% in group 2 (P = 0.040). Both the 5‐year disease‐specific survival and overall survival significantly increased after the learning phase. CONCLUSION: The learning phase of robot‐assisted laparoscopy in early‐stage cervical cancer in this institutional cohort is at least 61 procedures, with higher survival rates in the women treated thereafter. The learning curve of robot‐assisted laparoscopy affects oncological outcomes and warrants more attention in the design of future studies. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: The learning curve of robot‐assisted laparoscopy in early‐stage cervical cancer affects oncological outcomes and warrants more attention.