Purpose: To compare the learning curves for mastering OP and LP surgical techniques, in terms of effects on completion times and postoperative outcomes/complications.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed for 198 patients with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. The learning curves were in regard to two groups of surgeons: three of whom performed 106 OPs while three others performed 92 LPs. Treatment-related complications were divided into two categories: specific complications relating to the pyloromyotomy and non-specific complications. A logistic regression model with repeated data was used to explore the occurrence of complications.
Results: The overall postoperative complication rates were not significantly different between the OP (15.1 %) and the LP (11.8 %) groups. Specific complications were more frequent in the LP group (6.4 versus 2.8 %), while non-specific complications were more frequent in the OP group (12.1 versus 5.3 %). The occurrence of complications exhibited a statistically decreasing risk with each supplementary procedure that was performed (p = 0.0067) in the LP group, but not in the OP group (p = 0.9665).
Conclusion: From a learning process perspective, laparoscopy is mainly associated with a significantly higher risk of specific complications. This risk decreases in line with the surgeon's level of experience, whereas non-specific complications remain stable in open procedures.
Keywords: Laparoscopy; Learning curve; Pediatric; Pyloric stenosis.