Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Quality of care and benchmarking

BACKGROUND: Quality control is an important issue in surgery. Therefore, we assessed the outcome of laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LC) performed at our institution specialized in laparoscopic surgery in order to do a benchmarking. METHODS: The perioperative courses of the first 1000 LCs performed in Aarberg hospital were recorded, analyzed, and compared with the results of a recent study including 10, 174 patients published by the Swiss Association of Laparoscopic and Thoracoscopic Surgery (SALTS). RESULTS: The following quality indicators were compared with the corresponding SALTS rates: primary conversion rate 1.5% (SALTS 8.2%; p <0.01); conversion rate for intraoperative complications 6.5% (63.8%; p <0.01); intraoperative complication rate 22.2% (34.4%; p <0.01); postoperative morbidity rate 8.1% (10.4%; n.s.); in-hospital mortality rate 0.1% (0.2%; n.s.); and reoperation rate 0.8% (1.7%; n.s.). CONCLUSIONS: LC has reached a high quality level in its widespread use, but in a small specialized center even a higher quality level can be achieved. Favorable results seem to depend on structural advantages of a surveyable unit in association with a continuously motivated surgical team.     

Does the complication rate increase in laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis?

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has replaced open cholecystectomy for the treatment of gallbladder disease. Despite the well-accepted success of LC in chronic cholecystitis, the efficacy of this technique has been subject to some debate in acute cholecystitis (AC). This study was designed to evaluate our institution's experience with LC for AC and chronic symptomatic calculous cholecystitis (CC), based on complication and conversion rates to open surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of 1158 patients with LC from September 1991 to December 2001 were analyzed. The parameters of age, gender, early and late complication rates, and conversion rates from LC to open cholecystectomy were compared in patients with AC and CC. RESULTS: During the study period, LC was performed in 1158 patients. Of these, 162 patients had AC (group 1) and 996 patients had CC (group 2). The conversion rates were 4.3% (7/162) in group 1 and 2.4% (24/996) in group 2. The complication rates were not significantly different (5.6% in group 1, 5.1% in group 2, P > 0.05). Difficulty in dissection around Calot's triangle and obscure anatomy were the main reasons for conversion to conventional open surgery. The mortality rate was 1.2% in group 1 and 0.01% in group 2. CONCLUSION: LC appears to be a reliable, safe, and effective treatment modality for AC and CC. The surgical approach should be performed carefully because of the spectrum of potential hazards of the laparoscopic procedure. Conversion and complication rates are similar in both AC and CC groups, and improve as surgeons gain experience.     

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the elderly

BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective study was to determine the feasibility and the complications or benefits of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in the patients older than 75 years. METHODS: From January 1992 to July 1998, a total of 863 patients underwent LC, of these patients, 102 patients older than 75 years (group 1) were compared with 761 younger patients (group 2). RESULTS: In the elderly, 35.3% were at high surgical risk (American Society of Anesthesiology [ASA] III and ASA IV). The conversion rate to open cholecystectomy (OC) was 21.6%. The mean length of hospital stay was 6.9 days for both laparoscopy and conversion. Morbidity and mortality rates were 13.7% and 1%, respectively. No patient suffered intraoperative cardiopulmonary complication, and there was no reoperation in the elderly. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients experience more complications and longer duration of hospital stay than younger patients. However, our results compare favorably with other OC studies in elderly patients.     

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: our experience

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is now the gold standard in the treatment of cholelithiasis. LC is safe even in patients with acute cholecystitis. In our 118 cases there was 4 major complications as bile duct injuries (3%) and 13 minor complications (11%); conversion rate was 21% (24 patients), without mortality. Our experience confirms the validity of early LC in the treatment of acute cholecystitis, but laparoscopic procedure is associated with higher conversion rate (21% versus 3%) and complication rates compared to the treatment in non-acute patients.     

Post–Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiography Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Challenging but Safe

Background and Objectives:

Up to 19% of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) have common bile duct stones and may require endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERCP) before LC. The risk of complications of LC after ERCP is higher, and the optimal interval between ERCP and LC is disputed. In our unit, LC is performed approximately 6 weeks after ERCP. This study aims to compare outcomes between subsets of patients undergoing LC with or without prior ERCP.

Methods:

All patients undergoing ERCP and elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ELC) over a 1-year period were included. Outcome measures included ERCP outcomes, duration of surgery, intraoperative findings, and postoperative outcomes. Two groups of patients were compared: LC after ERCP and ELC.

Results:

The study included 190 ELC patients and 43 patients with LC after ERCP (ERCP-LC) (December 2008 to December 2009). At ERCP, 25 patients (58%) had ductal stones. The post-ERCP complication rate was 5%. The median time to LC was 42 days, and 6 patients (14%) were readmitted before LC. There were more severe adhesions and longer median operating times in the ERCP-LC group (75 minutes for ELC vs 110 minutes for ERCP-LC, P = .013). We found no significant differences in rates of conversion to open surgery, postoperative complications, lengths of stay, and readmission rates.

Conclusion:

Interval LC after ERCP is a more technically challenging procedure but is associated with a low rate of complications. Although there is emerging evidence that early LC after ERCP is feasible, our study shows that our current practice of delaying LC by approximately 6 weeks is safe.     

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in Patients With Cirrhosis of the Liver and Symptomatic Cholelithiasis

Background:

The indications and benefits of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in patients with liver cirrhosis and symptomatic cholelithiasis have not been satisfactorily documented. The aim of this study was to investigate its efficacy and safety in such patients.

Methods:

Medical records of 38 patients with liver cirrhosis (stages Child-Pugh A and B) who underwent LC were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic characteristics and other parameters including initial presentation, conversion rate, complication rate, mortality, and duration of hospital stay were investigated and compared with noncirrhotic patients'' parameters in our database.

Results:

Cirrhotic patients who underwent LC were older than noncirrhotic patients (P=0.021). Both the conversion rate (15.78%) and the duration of hospital stay were increased in the cirrhotic group, but without significant differences. Major complications occurred more often in the cirrhotic group (P=0.027), increasing morbidity; however, the mortality was zero.

Conclusions:

LC can be safely performed in Child-Pugh A and B cirrhotic patients with symptomatic gallstone disease, with acceptable complication and conversion rates. The increased risk for a major complication, however, demands more attention than usual.     

5044例电视腹腔镜胆囊切除术的临床分析

目的探讨腹腔镜胆囊切除术的手术原则及并发症的预防。方法收集我院1992～2002年完成的5044例腹腔镜胆囊切除术的临床资料，分析行腹腔镜胆囊切除病人的原发疾病种类，手术引起的近期及远期并发症。结果5044例腹腔镜胆囊切除术病人中最多的是慢性胆囊炎合并胆囊结石，占84．75％；急性胆囊炎伴胆囊结石186例，占3．69％。中转开腹手术93例，占1．84％。手术并发症中，最严重的为手术中胆管损伤，共9例，发生率0．18％；术后胆漏12例，发生率0．24％；术后出血5例，发生率0.10％。晚期并发症包括胆总管残余结石8例，胆管狭窄6例。无死亡病例。结论腹腔镜胆囊切除术是胆囊疾病的最佳选择，操作技术仍然较复杂，胆总管损伤的发生率较高。细致的操作及配合手术中胆道造影可以减少胆管损伤的发生。     

Conversion rate in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: evolution from 1993 and current state

The definition of difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is inconsistent. The aim of this study was to analyze the factors that make LC difficult to perform and determine ways to avoid conversion, based on our series. All patients who underwent LC or open cholecystectomy (OC) between January 1993 and December 2001 in our division of general surgery were the subject matter of this study. Preliminary decisions regarding LC or OC were avoided. Our experience (1993-2001) was based on 1360 consecutive elective LC procedures in 381 male and 979 female patients. The mean age of the patients at operation was 53 years (range, 17-84). The median operating time was 55 minutes (range, 35-180). The overall conversion rate was 1.8%. Indications for conversion included surgical difficulty during the laparoscopic procedure and anesthesia issues. The conversion rate has decreased to less than 1% in recent years. There were no mortalities, and the postoperative complication rates were low. The mean hospital stay of the patients was 2.6 days. In conclusion, based on our experience, we suggest limiting OC to patients with proven contraindications to LC (i.e., Mirizzi syndrome or systemic illness incompatible with pneumoperitoneum), attempting LC in all other cases, and considering cholecystostomy and delayed LC as an alternative to conversion during difficult LC.     

Management of acute calculous cholecystitis in high-risk patients: percutaneous cholecystotomy followed by early laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Emergency cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates in patients with significant comorbidities and high-risk surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness, possible advantages, and complications of percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) followed by an early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in relation to conservative treatment followed by a delayed LC in high-surgical risk patients. Between 2002 and 2004, patients were randomly classified into 2 groups: the first group consisted of patients who had PC followed by an early LC (PCLC group, n = 31) and the second group consisted of patients who had conservative treatment followed by a delayed LC (DLC group, n = 30). The groups were statistically compared regarding their demographic, comorbidity, hospital stay, conversion, and complication rates. PC was technically successful in 31 patients with no attributable mortality or major complications. No difference had been found in regarding demographic, comorbidity, and complication rates. In PCLC group, all the patients experienced symptom relief within 24 hours, and early LC was attempted in 31 patients once their clinical condition was sufficiently stable, this was successfully accomplished in 29 (93.5%). In the DLC group, delayed LC was attempted in 30 patients, and this was successfully accomplished in 26 (86.6%). The hospital stay was shorter and cost was in the PCLC group was lower than in the DLC group. PC allows resolution of sepsis in patients at high surgical risk. Early LC could be safely performed once sepsis and acute infection resolved in these patients.     

Percutaneous gallbladder drainage for delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with acute cholecystitis

BACKGROUND: Many studies have concluded that delayed or interval laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in patients with acute cholecystitis (AC) demonstrated higher conversion rates and complication rates compared with early LC. However, if the acutely inflamed gallbladder is decompressed by emergent percutaneous gallbladder drainage (PGBD), it may decrease the technical difficulty of LC allowing successful delayed LC when the patient is in better condition. The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess the outcomes of delayed LC following PGBD in patients with AC. METHODS: A total of 72 LC for AC were divided into PGBD (n = 27) and non-PGBD groups (n = 45). The PGBD group had delayed LC (after 72 hours of admission). Thirty-two non-PGBD patients had early LC (within 72 hours of admission) and 13 non-PGBD had delayed LC. Outcome of delayed LC for the PGBD group was assessed by LC time, conversion rate, morbidity rate, and hospital stay, and compared with that of the non-PGBD group. RESULTS: Compared with early and delayed LC of the non-PGBD group, the PGBD group showed longer LC time (median 110 minutes versus 87.5 minutes versus 85 minutes, P <0. 05), a little lower conversion rate (15% versus 25% versus 23%), similar morbidity rate (15% versus 9% versus 15%), and prolonged hospital stay (13 days versus 7 days versus 10 days). CONCLUSIONS: PGBD did not significantly improve the outcome of LC for AC as assessed by conversion and morbidity rate and hospital stay compared with no PGBD. Thus, we can conclude that although PGBD is a safe and effective emergency procedure for AC, it should be limited to higher risk groups such as elderly or critically ill patients and to acalculous cholecystitis.     

Using a risk score for conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy in resident training

BACKGROUND: We previously developed a risk score for conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy (RSCLO). The aim of this study is to validate this scoring system in a new patient population and test its use in case selection for resident training. METHODS: The data of 1,000 laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LC) that had been performed in our clinic between 1992 and 1999 were analyzed retrospectively, and RSCLO was developed. Scores take values between -20 and 41; values below -3 represent low risk, and values over -3 represent high risk. Analyses in this group of patients showed that at least 15 cases have to be performed for adequate LC training. The current study is a clinical prospective study based on data of the previous study and evaluates RSCLO in a new patient population of 400 LCs. All patients were scored preoperatively; surgeons who had performed 15 or fewer LCs previously operated only patients with a score below -3. Patients with high scores (>values of -3) were operated only by surgeons who had performed at least 16 LCs. Results of the first 1,000 cases and later 400 cases (new patient population of the current study) were compared in terms of conversion to open cholecystectomy, complications, and operation times. RESULTS: Both in the first 1,000 patients and later in 400 patients, increasing scores resulted with higher conversion rates and complication rates and longer operation times (P<.05). In the later 400 patients, conversion rate (4.8% vs 3.0%, P=.08), complication rate (5.5% vs 3.5%, P=.07), and mean operation time (56.8 min vs 52.5 min, P=.004) were decreased when compared with the first 1,000 patients. In resident training cases, conversion and complication rates decreased to 0%, and mean operation time was shortened by nearly 10 minutes. In high-score difficult cases, conversion and complication rates decreased, and mean operation time was shortened by nearly 20 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: This risk score can predict the difficulty of LC cases reliably. Scoring patients preoperatively can decrease the problems in training cases, and management of difficult cases may be left to experienced surgeons.     

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and management of biliary tract stones in a freestanding ambulatory surgery center.

OBJECTIVE: We conducted a retrospective 4-year study of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy at a freestanding ambulatory surgery center. Data on rates of hospital admission, conversion to open surgery, bile duct injury, postoperative bile leakage, and incidence of choledocholithiasis were analyzed. The success rate for dynamic fluoroscopic intraoperative cholangiography was computed, and outpatient laparoscopic common bile duct exploration and anesthetic management were reviewed. METHODS: Patient charts from the ambulatory surgery center, office, and hospital were reviewed over a 4-year period commencing in October 1999. All cases were performed by 1 of 3 surgeons who are experienced with outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy and practice routine dynamic fluoroscopic intraoperative cholangiography. RESULTS: A total of 338 laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed. Dynamic fluoroscopic intraoperative cholangiography was successfully performed in 89% (n = 302). No instances of bile duct injury or conversions to open surgery were reported. A 0.89% (n = 3) incidence of postoperative bile leak occurred. Six patients were admitted for inpatient care for a rate of 1.78%. Choledocholithiasis occurred in 2.0% and was managed successfully in the ambulatory setting. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be adapted to the freestanding ambulatory surgery environment with very high standards of care and very low complication rates.     

Complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in Switzerland

Background: We set out to analyze the technical aspects, intraoperative complications, morbidity, and mortality of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a multi-institutional study representative of Switzerland. Methods: Data were collected from 10,174 patients from 82 surgical services. A total of 353 different parameters per patient were included. Results: We found intraoperative complications in 34.4% of patients and had a conversion rate of 8.2%. This rate was significantly increased in patients with complicated cholelithiasis and in those with previous upper—but not lower—abdominal surgery. In most cases, conversions to open procedures were required because of technical difficulties due to inflammatory changes and/or unclear anatomical findings at the time of operation. Bleeding was a common intraoperative complication, that significantly increased the risk of conversion. Patients with loss of gallstones in the peritoneal cavity had increased rates of abscesses. The rate of common bile duct injuries was 0.31%, but it decreased significantly as the laparoscopic experience of the surgeon increased. The rate of common bile duct injuries was not increased in patients with acute cholecystitis or in the 1.32% of patients undergoing laparoscopic common bile duct exploration. Intraoperative cholangiography did not reduce the risk of common bile duct injuries, but it allowed them to be diagnosed intraoperatively in 75% of patients. Local complications were recorded in 4.79% of patients, and systemic complications were seen in 5.59%. The mortality rate was 0.2%. Conclusions: Although laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe procedure, the rate of conversion to open cholecystectomy is still substantial. The conversion rate depends both on the indication and intraoperative complications. There is still a 10.38% morbidity associated with the procedure; however, the incidence of common bile duct injuries, which decreases with growing laparoscopic experience, was relatively low. Received: 14 October 1997/Accepted: 21 January 1998     

Single-stage definitive laparoscopic management in mild acute biliary pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: Population-based studies have shown that nearly one third of patients with acute biliary pancreatitis undergo endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) before undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) (two-stage approach). The present study was designed to evaluate the safety of single-stage laparoscopic management to avoid preoperative ERCP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between June 1998 and June 2002, 35 female patients and 10 male patients (median age, 59 years) with uncomplicated mild acute biliary pancreatitis were studied prospectively and reviewed retrospectively. LC with fluoroscopic intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) or with fluoroscopic IOC and laparoscopic CBD exploration in cases of concomitant choledocholithiasis was performed as the definitive treatment (single-stage approach). Patients underwent surgery electively when symptoms had subsided and laboratory parameters had improved. RESULTS: LC alone was performed in 39 patients, and an additional laparoscopic CBD exploration was performed in the remaining six. In one patient, IOC yielded a false-positive result. CBD stones were detected in four cases, and debris in the CBD in one case, for an 11% incidence of concomitant choledocholithiasis. The conversion rate was zero, and single-stage laparoscopic treatment was successful in all cases. The overall morbidity rate was 4%. The 30-day postoperative mortality rate was zero. CONCLUSION: Although preoperative ERCP and sphincterotomy still have a role in complicated cases of mild acute biliary pancreatitis, laparoscopic single-stage definitive treatment is feasible and safe in uncomplicated cases of disease when local experience is available.     

早期腹腔镜胆囊切除术在急性胆源性胰腺炎中的应用

目的 探讨早期腹腔镜胆囊切除术治疗急性胆源性胰腺炎的疗效。方法 回顾性分析2005年1月至2014年4月我院收治的急性胆源性胰腺炎患者共136例,根据手术选择时间,分为早期手术组（ELC组,入院后5d内行LC）76例和择期手术组（ILC组,出院1个月以上择期行LC）60例,比较两组在手术难度、手术时间、中转开腹率、术后并发症发生率、住院天数和费用的不同。结果 ELC组和ILC组在手术难度、手术时间、中转开腹率、术后并发症发生率上并没有统计学差异（P＞0.05）,而ELC组的住院天数和住院费用明显低于ILC组（P＜0.05）,且ILC组有35.0%的患者在等待手术过程中因胆源性胰腺炎复发入院。结论 对于急性胆源性胰腺炎患者,早期施行LC术并没有增加手术难度、手术时间、中转开腹率和术后并发症发生率,相反大大降低了住院时间和住院费用。     

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: an Indian experience of 1233 cases

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is a well-established procedure for symptomatic cholelithiasis in India, but there are few data available regarding the procedure and its related complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This paper represents a retrospective review of 1233 patients who underwent LC at Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India, over 4 years (1997-2000). The case files of all these patients were analyzed for patient particulars, intraoperative findings, reason for any open conversion, postoperative stay, and mortality. RESULTS: The overall conversion rate was 7.06% (87 patients). The commonest cause of conversion was a frozen Calot's triangle (52 patients), followed by injury to the common bile duct (8 patients). The average postoperative stay in successful LC was 1.32 days. The overall mortality rate was 0.16% (2 deaths). The quality of life after LC was good to excellent in more than 90% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Despite multiple hands in training, the complication rates of LC are within acceptable limits. The overall conversion rate has risen because of the increase in elective conversions, but the incidence of complications has come down because of a "no hesitation" policy in converting. In spite of multiple operators, LC is the procedure of choice for symptomatic cholelithiasis at our hospital.     

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the elderly

Background Few studies have examined the results of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in the elderly. We reviewed our experience with the procedure in 194 patients age 65 and older. Methods A chart review was performed on patients who underwent attempted LC over a 4-year period. Age, conversion rate to open cholecystectomy (OC), length of stay, and morbidity and mortality rates were compared between elective and inpatients as well as between patients age 65–75 and patients over age 75. Results Conversion rate to OC was 10.6%. Mean length of hospital stay was 2.7 days. Morbidity and mortality rates were 18% and 1%. Elective patients experienced significantly fewer medical complications. There were no differences in complication rates between patients age 65–75 and patients over 75 years, but younger patients had a significantly shorter mean length of hospitalization. Conclusions Elderly patients experience more complications and longer lengths of stay than the general population. However, our results compare favorably with OC series in elderly patients. Presented at the annual meeting of the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), Orlando, Florida, USA, 11–14 March 1995     

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis in geriatric patients

Although acute cholecystitis (AC) in many centers is routinely treated by laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), the outcome of LC for AC in geriatric patients (75 years or more) remains almost unstudied. All 32 geriatric patients undergoing a cholecystectomy for histologically proven AC in a teaching hospital during a six-year period were studied retrospectively. Median preoperative duration of symptoms was eight days and median preoperative hospital stay was six days. Preoperative ERCP was performed in 22 patients with successful sphincterotomy and common bile duct (CBD) stone retrieval in 11 patients. Overall twelve patients (37%) had CBD stones and 14 patients (44%) had gangrenous cholecystitis at operation. Twenty-seven patients underwent a LC with a conversion rate of 26%, a complication rate of 41% and a mortality rate of 3.7%. Five patients were judged unstable for a laparoscopic approach and underwent a straight open cholecystectomy. Although the latter were at higher risk (higher APACHE II scores), their outcome except for longer intensive care unit stays, was not different from laparoscopically treated patients. Lack of superiority of laparoscopic over open cholecystectomy in the present study seemed due to clinical characteristics of AC in geriatric patients which may lead to late diagnosis and treatment. Preoperative ERCP by further delaying surgery may contribute to loose any potential benefit of an early laparoscopic procedure. The place of preoperative ERCP and the timing of LC in geriatric patients with AC therefore may need to be redefined.     

Intraoperative cholangiography in laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis

In our prospective study we wanted to prove whether the safety of laparoscopic treatment of acute cholecystitis could be improved by intraoperative cholangiography. From July 1993 to June 1998 210 patients with acute cholecystitis underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In 23 cases (10.9%) a conversion was necessary. 189 patients underwent a laparoscopic cholangiography. In 2 cases (1.1%) an incision of the common bile duct was detected which had been mistaken for the cystic duct. So the cutting of the common bile duct could be prevented. In 12 patients (6.3%) unknown common bile duct stones were found. The complication rate was 9.5% without any mortality or major injury of the common bile duct.     

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Differences in Outcome between Attendings and Assistants of Different Training Backgrounds

Background: Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP) is associated with a significant learning curve. We hypothesize that differences in surgeon and assistant training backgrounds may significantly impact outcomes during the learning curve. Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on patients undergoing LRYGBP at an academic medical center between January 1998 and August 2003. Operations were performed by surgeons with different training backgrounds: without formal laparoscopic fellowship (S1, n=95); immediately following laparoscopic fellowship (S2, n=100); and with extensive laparoscopic experience post fellowship (S3, n=88). First assistants were attendings, fellows, or residents. The variables analyzed included demographics, operative times, estimated blood loss (EBL), rate of conversion, length of stay (LOS), ICU stay, re-operation/re-admission rate, and complications. Results were analyzed by ANOVA and Fisher's exact test. Results: There were significant differences among surgeons of different training backgrounds in EBL, LOS, rate of ICU admission, and intraoperative and late complications rates. Among assistants of different training levels, there were significant differences in operative time, EBL, intraoperative complication rates and re-admission rates. Conclusions: Differences in training background of the surgeons resulted in significant differences in outcome, including EBL, LOS, ICU admission and intraoperative and late complication rates. Lower assistant training levels significantly impacted efficiency through lengthened operative times and increased EBL, as well as increased intraoperative complication rates and re-admission rates. Our results suggested that participating in a laparoscopic fellowship and operating with a more experienced assistant may improve outcomes during the learning curve.