• Antonio E Martin-Ucar, Javier Aragon, Bolufer Nadal Sergio S Unidad de Cirugia Toracica, Hospital Universitario Alicante, Alicante, Spain., Galvez Munoz Carlos C Unidad de Cirugia Toracica, Hospital Universitario Alicante, Alicante, Spain., Qigang Luo, Itzel Perez Mendez, Sihoe Alan D L ADL Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China., and Laura Socci.
• Thoracic Surgery Units, Sheffield Teaching Hospital, Sheffield, UK.
• Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2017 Jun 1; 51 (6): 1183-1187.

ObjectivesCompetency in video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) lobectomy is estimated to be reached after the surgeon completes 50 cases. We wanted to explore the impact of competency in performing multiport VATS lobectomies on completing the needed number of single-port VATS.MethodsIn a retrospective multicentre study, 6 individual surgeons (3 with previous competency in multiport VATS lobectomy and 3 without) submitted their first 50 cases of single-port VATS lobectomies. Extended and sublobar resections were excluded. Pre-, peri- and postoperative data were compared between the groups of surgeons. Chi-square and Wilcoxon's rank tests were used. The less experienced surgeons had previously attended dedicated training courses and visited with experts.ResultsA total of 300 cases were included [150 in Group A (surgeons with previous experience performing multiport VATS) and 150 in Group B (surgeons without extensive experience performing multiport VATS)]. Surgeons in Group B performed significantly more elective open lobectomies during their learning curve period than surgeons of Group A (58 vs 1). Patients in Group B were older and had more risk factors. There were 3 in-hospital deaths (respiratory failure, sepsis and fatal stroke). There were no differences between the groups in operative time, intensive care unit admissions, hospital stay, total complications, tumour size or number of N2 stations explored. Only the duration of intercostal drainage (2 vs 3 days, 0.012), incidence of respiratory tract infections (1% vs 7%, P  = 0.002) and conversion rates (4% vs 12%, P  = 0.018) were better in Group A. Patients characteristics played a role in the development of respiratory infections and longer drainage times but not in the need for conversion.ConclusionsOverall, postoperative outcomes during the learning curve period for single-port VATS lobectomies are not noticeably affected by previous multiport VATS experience. Less experienced surgeons were more selective in order to achieve competency (more lower lobectomies and more open operations). Competency in single-port VATS lobectomy can be acquired safely with adequate training and good case selection but will be achieved 'faster' with previous competency in multiport VATS lobectomy.© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.

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