Cumulative sum analysis for evaluating learning curve of endoscopic lateral neck dissection

Abstract Objectives Endoscopic lateral neck dissection (LND) can be a scarless procedure if a surgeon has performed a sufficient number of operations to become skilled at the techniques involved. Here, we examine the learning curve for a surgeon who performed 53 endoscopic LND procedures via chest a...

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Main Authors: Zhen-Xin Chen, Xin-Ran Zhao, Jie-Min Deng, Ying Cao, Jing-Bao Chen, Feng-Shun Pang, Zhan-Hong Lin, Xiao-Bo Zhang, Bo Xu, You Qin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-11-01
Series:BMC Surgery
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12893-024-02666-y
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author Zhen-Xin Chen
Xin-Ran Zhao
Jie-Min Deng
Ying Cao
Jing-Bao Chen
Feng-Shun Pang
Zhan-Hong Lin
Xiao-Bo Zhang
Bo Xu
You Qin
author_facet Zhen-Xin Chen
Xin-Ran Zhao
Jie-Min Deng
Ying Cao
Jing-Bao Chen
Feng-Shun Pang
Zhan-Hong Lin
Xiao-Bo Zhang
Bo Xu
You Qin
author_sort Zhen-Xin Chen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objectives Endoscopic lateral neck dissection (LND) can be a scarless procedure if a surgeon has performed a sufficient number of operations to become skilled at the techniques involved. Here, we examine the learning curve for a surgeon who performed 53 endoscopic LND procedures via chest approach. Methods Surgical outcomes for 53 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma who underwent endoscopic LND via chest approach between February 2017 and November 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. The surgeon’s learning curve was evaluated using a cumulative sum graphic model (CUSUM). Results A CUSUM analysis was applied to 53 patients (10 males, 43 females) with a mean age of 41.4 y who underwent endoscopic LND via chest approach. The best model for the curve was determined to be a third-order polynomial equation as follows: CUSUMOT = − 0.007×patient number3-0.666×patient number2 + 55.721×patient number − 72.964. This equation has a high R2 value of 0.929. The peak operative time (OT) occurred at the 30th case. Consequently, the learning curve model was divided into two phases: phase 1 (1–30 cases) and phase 2 (31–53 cases). OT (307.9 ± 63.8 min vs. 232.4 ± 44.2 min, respectively; p < 0.001), blood loss (50 mL vs. 20 mL, respectively; p = 0.001), and complications (43.3% vs. 13.0%, respectively; p = 0.038) decreased significantly in phase 2 compared to phase 1. Conclusions The learning curve of endoscopic LND via chest approach was found to involve 30 cases. With greater experience, the surgery was completed with shorter OT and fewer complications. This approach may be an alternative for patients who desire cosmesis. Furthermore, the present data and experience insights regarding endoscopic LND via chest approach may help other surgeons to pass the learning phase more safely.
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spelling doaj-art-3ff05e3d083a42648df43ea5f83848b52024-12-01T12:07:43ZengBMCBMC Surgery1471-24822024-11-012411810.1186/s12893-024-02666-yCumulative sum analysis for evaluating learning curve of endoscopic lateral neck dissectionZhen-Xin Chen0Xin-Ran Zhao1Jie-Min Deng2Ying Cao3Jing-Bao Chen4Feng-Shun Pang5Zhan-Hong Lin6Xiao-Bo Zhang7Bo Xu8You Qin9Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan UniversityThe Second Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou, University of Chinese Medicine (Guangdong Provincial Hospital of TCM)Department of Minimally Invasive Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Guangdong Provincial Hospital of TCM)Department of Minimally Invasive Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Guangdong Provincial Hospital of TCM)Department of Minimally Invasive Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Guangdong Provincial Hospital of TCM)Department of Minimally Invasive Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Guangdong Provincial Hospital of TCM)Department of Minimally Invasive Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Guangdong Provincial Hospital of TCM)Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan UniversityDepartment of Minimally Invasive Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Guangdong Provincial Hospital of TCM)Abstract Objectives Endoscopic lateral neck dissection (LND) can be a scarless procedure if a surgeon has performed a sufficient number of operations to become skilled at the techniques involved. Here, we examine the learning curve for a surgeon who performed 53 endoscopic LND procedures via chest approach. Methods Surgical outcomes for 53 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma who underwent endoscopic LND via chest approach between February 2017 and November 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. The surgeon’s learning curve was evaluated using a cumulative sum graphic model (CUSUM). Results A CUSUM analysis was applied to 53 patients (10 males, 43 females) with a mean age of 41.4 y who underwent endoscopic LND via chest approach. The best model for the curve was determined to be a third-order polynomial equation as follows: CUSUMOT = − 0.007×patient number3-0.666×patient number2 + 55.721×patient number − 72.964. This equation has a high R2 value of 0.929. The peak operative time (OT) occurred at the 30th case. Consequently, the learning curve model was divided into two phases: phase 1 (1–30 cases) and phase 2 (31–53 cases). OT (307.9 ± 63.8 min vs. 232.4 ± 44.2 min, respectively; p < 0.001), blood loss (50 mL vs. 20 mL, respectively; p = 0.001), and complications (43.3% vs. 13.0%, respectively; p = 0.038) decreased significantly in phase 2 compared to phase 1. Conclusions The learning curve of endoscopic LND via chest approach was found to involve 30 cases. With greater experience, the surgery was completed with shorter OT and fewer complications. This approach may be an alternative for patients who desire cosmesis. Furthermore, the present data and experience insights regarding endoscopic LND via chest approach may help other surgeons to pass the learning phase more safely.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12893-024-02666-yPapillary thyroid carcinomaEndoscopic lateral neck dissectionChest approachLearning curveCumulative sum graphic model
spellingShingle Zhen-Xin Chen
Xin-Ran Zhao
Jie-Min Deng
Ying Cao
Jing-Bao Chen
Feng-Shun Pang
Zhan-Hong Lin
Xiao-Bo Zhang
Bo Xu
You Qin
Cumulative sum analysis for evaluating learning curve of endoscopic lateral neck dissection
BMC Surgery
Papillary thyroid carcinoma
Endoscopic lateral neck dissection
Chest approach
Learning curve
Cumulative sum graphic model
title Cumulative sum analysis for evaluating learning curve of endoscopic lateral neck dissection
title_full Cumulative sum analysis for evaluating learning curve of endoscopic lateral neck dissection
title_fullStr Cumulative sum analysis for evaluating learning curve of endoscopic lateral neck dissection
title_full_unstemmed Cumulative sum analysis for evaluating learning curve of endoscopic lateral neck dissection
title_short Cumulative sum analysis for evaluating learning curve of endoscopic lateral neck dissection
title_sort cumulative sum analysis for evaluating learning curve of endoscopic lateral neck dissection
topic Papillary thyroid carcinoma
Endoscopic lateral neck dissection
Chest approach
Learning curve
Cumulative sum graphic model
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12893-024-02666-y
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