Outcomes of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy performed by senior surgical residents as compared to bariatric surgeons.

Abstract

Background: Limited data are available on the safety and outcomes of LSG performed by senior surgical residents (SSR). This study aimed to compare the outcomes of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) performed by SSR under the supervision of a senior bariatric surgeon (SBS) with those performed solely by SBS.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent LSG. Patients were divided into two groups: Consultant group surgery performed using SBS. Supervised resident group comprised surgeries performed by SSR under the supervision of SBS. Data collected included demographics, body mass index (BMI), excessive body weight loss (EBWL), complications, and follow-up results.

Results: Of the 480 patients, 350 (72.9%) underwent surgery by SBS (Consultant Group), and 130 (27.1%) by SSR with supervision (Supervised resident Group). Operative times were longer in supervised resident group (104.13 min) than in consultant group (82.63 min, P < 0.001). Early complications occurred in 3.1% of the cases, with no significant difference between the groups. Postoperative BMI and EBWL showed slightly better short-term results in supervised resident group, although differences diminished in the long term.

Discussion: LSG performed using SSR under the supervision of SBS is safe and effective. While operative times were longer for residents, short-term outcomes were comparable and there were no adverse effects on long-term results. These findings support the integration of LSG training into surgical residency programs.

Conclusion: LSG can be safely performed using SSR with appropriate supervision, with no detrimental impact on the outcomes. This highlights the feasibility of involving residents in LSG while maintaining a high standard of care.