[Complication rate in laparoscopic cholecystectomy not different for residents in training and surgeons].

OBJECTIVE To assess the difference in safety of laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed by residents and staff surgeons. SETTING St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, the Netherlands. DESIGN Retrospective study. METHOD Results of 649 laparoscopic cholecystectomies performed by staff surgeons experienced in laparoscopic surgery, by residents under supervision of a staff surgeon, by residents without supervision and by inexperienced surgeons, were compared. RESULTS Patients were comparable, except for liver function disorders and raised sedimentation rates, of which there were more in the group operated by the non-supervised residents, compared with the staff surgeons. Average operation time was 57 minutes in all four groups. Non-supervised residents had more retained stones than staff surgeons (19 vs 6%) and reported more bleeding during surgery than staff surgeons (21 vs 8%). Conversion rate was the same (3.9%) in all four groups. Complications occurred in 5.7%; this also was the same in the four groups. CONCLUSION Residents following a traditional surgical training without practice on animals, perform laparoscopic cholecystectomy as quickly as and with the same conversion and complication rates as their teachers.