TP8.2.11 Impact of surgical training on long-term patient outcomes in sleeve gastrectomy

Aims Although few studies have examined the impact of surgical training on early postoperative outcomes in bariatric surgery, there is limited data on longer-term outcomes in trainee-performed cases. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of surgical training on weight loss outcomes following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Methods Data was prospectively collated on patients undergoing primary LSG at a Quaternary Bariatric London teaching Hospital between 2016-2017. Inclusion criteria was BMI≥35. Exclusion criteria were BMI<35 or > 60, planned HDU admission and LSG with concomitant hiatus hernia repair. Operative time, length of stay, complications and longer-term excess weight loss was recorded with outcomes of consultant and trainee cases compared. Results 76 LSG patients were included; 44 performed by consultants, 32 by trainees. There was no difference in age, gender, pre-operative weight, BMI and number of obesity-related comorbidities between groups. Operative time (trainee105±10.0 vs consultant91±18.1 mins) and length of stay (trainee2.6±0.4 vs consultant2.8±0.9 days) were similar between groups. There were 3 complications in the trainee group (intra-abdominal collection requiring drainage, wound infection, hypokalaemia); and 2 with consultants (wound infection, intra-operative bleeding with ICU admission). Excess Weight Loss (%) at 2years was 55.9%±7.5% for trainee cases and 52.4%±6.7% for consultants(p = 0.49). Excess Weight Loss (%) at 3.5years was 54.9%±9.9% for trainee cases and 50.7%±9.9% for consultants(p = 0.54). Conclusion Outcomes in trainee-performed LSG are comparable to those performed by consultants. Surgical training in a high-volume teaching hospital does not appear to have detrimental effect on patient outcomes following LSG.