OBJECTIVETo evaluate the surgical outcomes of laparoscopic resection for rectal cancer and to investigate how surgeons without previous training of laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC) can quickly learn laparoscopic resection for rectal cancer.

METHODSClinical data of 105 cases of laparoscopic rectal resection performed by a group of surgeons without previous training of LC were reviewed. The cases were divided equally into 3 groups (groups A, B and C) according to the sequence of the operations. The operating time, blood loss, lymph node harvest, length of specimen, conversion rate to open surgery, intra- and postoperative complications and hospital stay were compared between the 3 groups.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences between the 3 groups with respect to age, gender, Dukes'stage or surgical approach (P>0.05). The operating time in group A was 196.1+/-30.3 min, significantly longer than that in group B (164.8+/-22.7 min) and group C (158.7+/-20.9 min) (P<0.001), but the operating time did not vary significantly between groups B and C (P>0.05). The blood loss was significantly greater in group A than in groups B and C (72.4+/-21.5, 48.2+/-16.3, and 46.6+/-15.4 ml, respectively, P<0.001), but showed no significant difference between the latter two groups (P>0.05). The rate of conversion to open surgery decreased from 11.4% in group A to 2.9% in group B and group C, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The rate of intraoperative complications declined from 17.1% in group A to 5.7% in group B and group C, showing no significant difference either. The lymph node harvest, length of specimen, and postoperative complications showed no significant variation between the 3 groups (P>0.05), but group C had significantly shorter mean hospital stay in comparison with groups A and B (P<0.001). The 35 patients in group A received the operation within a time period of 17 months (2.1 cases per month), and operations in groups B and C were done in 7 months (5 cases per month).

CONCLUSIONThe learning curve of laparoscopic rectal resections is approximately 35 cases, and the surgeons without previous experience of laparoscopic cholecystectomy can learn the surgical skills after performing 35 laparoscopic resections for rectal cancer at the monthly frequency of 2.1 cases.