Assessment of Quality Outcomes for Robotic Pancreaticoduodenectomy: Identification of the Learning Curve

IMPORTANCE: Quality assessment is an important instrument to ensure optimal surgical outcomes, particularly during the adoption of new surgical technology. The use of the robotic platform for complex pancreatic resections, such as the pancreaticoduodenectomy, requires close monitoring of outcomes during its implementation phase to ensure patient safety is maintained and the learning curve identified. OBJECTIVE: To report the results of a quality analysis and learning curve during the implementation of robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of 200 consecutive patients who underwent RPD in a large academic center from October 3, 2008, through March 1, 2014, was evaluated for important metrics of quality. Patients were analyzed in groups of 20 to minimize demographic differences and optimize the ability to detect statistically meaningful changes in performance. EXPOSURES: Robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Optimization of perioperative outcome parameters. RESULTS: No statistical differences in mortality rates or major morbidity were noted during the study. Statistical improvements in estimated blood loss and conversions to open surgery occurred after 20 cases (600 mL vs 250 mL [P = .002] and 35.0% vs 3.3% [P