Learning curve of high-complexity surgery for advanced ovarian cancer

We investigated the learning curve for a monodisciplinary surgical team consisting of gynecologic oncologists performing cytoreductive surgery for advanced ovarian cancer, involving high-complexity procedures with bowel resection and upper abdominal surgery. We investigated 271 consecutive patients with ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal carcinoma undergoing cytoreductive surgery for stage III/IV disease. All operations were performed by a team consisting of only gynecologic oncologists. Patients were classified into 2 groups depending on the surgical complexity score (a cumulative score based on complexity and number of procedures performed). Learning curves for patients with moderate (4–7, 63 patients) and high scores (8–18, 208 patients) were evaluated using cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis of operative time, total blood loss, and perioperative complications. Operative time and total blood loss showed a learning curve. The CUSUM curve for operative time peaked at the 28th and 51st case in the moderate- and high-score groups, respectively. The CUSUM curve for total blood loss peaked at the 16th and 55th case in the moderate- and high-score groups, respectively. The CUSUM curve for complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥ IIIb) showed a downward slope after the 6th case in the high-score group and remained within the acceptable range throughout the study. Proficiency in performing high-complexity surgery was achieved after approximately 50 cases and this number is greater than the number of cases required to perform moderate-complexity surgery. Acceptable rates of severe perioperative complications were observed even during the initial learning period in cases of high-complexity surgery. •We introduced a monodisciplinary surgical team comprising gynecologic oncologists to perform the high-complexity surgery.•Proficiency in operative time and total blood loss for high-complexity surgery was achieved after approximately 50 cases.•Acceptable rates of severe perioperative complications were observed even during the initial learning period.