First experience of junior surgeons with laparoscopic distal gastrectomy: in view of comparison with experienced surgeons

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic surgery is not easily performed by junior surgeons who have limited experience. AIM: To investigate the safety and feasibility of the first experience of junior surgeons with laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) who were trained in super high-volume centers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinicopathological data from the first 85 LDG cases performed by three gastric cancer surgeons were collected. All three surgeons were trained for > 1 year in super high-volume centers. The surgical and postoperative outcomes of the first experiences of junior surgeons were compared with the short-term outcomes reported in a multicenter randomized controlled trial (Korean Laparoendoscopic Gastrointestinal Surgery Study, KLASS-01 trial), conducted by the KLASS group, which is composed of experienced surgeons who practice in a high-volume center. RESULTS: A significantly greater number of older patients with longer operation times and lower estimated blood loss was observed for the junior surgeons than in the KLASS data. Although junior surgeons performed significantly more Billroth II anastomoses with D1+ lymph node dissection, there was no difference between the two groups in terms of hospital stay, number of retrieved lymph nodes, or postoperative morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical outcomes of early gastric cancer managed by laparoscopic surgery performed by well-trained beginners were similar to the outcomes reported in the large-scale trial. Therefore, with regard to the surgical training system, training at super high-volume centers may be considered to provide some assurance in terms of surgical technique-related safety.