Does fellow participation in laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass affect perioperative outcomes?

Background Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) requires specialized training commonly acquired during a fellowship. We hypothesized that fellows affect patient outcomes and this effect varies during training. Methods We included all LRYGB from the 2005 to 2009 American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Cases without trainees (attending) were compared to those with trainees of ≥6 years (fellow). Outcomes were pulmonary, infectious, and wound complications and deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Multivariable regression controlled for age, BMI, and comorbidities. Results Of the 18,333 LRYGB performed, 4,349 (24 %) were fellow cases. Fellow patients had a higher BMI (46.1 vs. 45.7, p