Eight clinical year 4 (CY4) residents completed 60 R-LAGB using a one-to-one proctored training model (PTM). R-LAGB was distilled into 7 key steps: gastroesophageal-junction dissection, gastrohepatic ligament dissection, retrogastric space creation, band placement, band closure, gastrogastric suturing, and port placement. Residents performed more complex steps after each case to gain competency in all aspects of the operation. Patient demographics, comorbidities, operative complications, operating times, and clinical outcomes were compared with a control group of 287 R-LAGB cases completed using the CTM (n = 15 CY4 residents).
All residents using the PTM were able to successfully complete an R-LAGB as primary surgeon after a median of 8 operations (range 5 to 11); no residents in the CTM completed an R-LAGB as primary surgeon. Mean operative time was statistically greater in the PTM group (99.3 卤 22.1 minutes) vs CTM (91.5 卤 21.1 minutes) (p = 0.001). There were no intraoperative complications in either group; incidence of postoperative complications was similar between groups.
All residents in the proctored setting claimed competence and have persistent console experience without significantly increasing procedure complications. PTM, otherwise known as stepwise education, is a safe, standardized method to train surgical residents in R-LAGB.