Feasibility and safety of a surgical training program in total laparoscopic hysterectomy: Results of a pilot trial

Abstract

BackgroundIt is widely accepted total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) and vaginal hysterectomy are less invasive procedures compared to total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH). However, rates of TAH remain unreasonably high.AimTo pilot‐test a model of training for practising obstetricians and gynaecologists (O&Gs) in TLH.Materials and MethodsTraining of participating O&Gs was conducted across four hospitals in Queensland, Australia, while other O&Gs were observed as contemporary controls. Type of hysterectomy, details of the surgery, including adverse events, were collected from hospital medical records.ResultsEleven O&Gs completed the pre‐intervention and intervention training periods, and nine completed the post‐intervention follow‐up. TLH rates increased from 24% prior to 75% during and 68% after intervention. Overall, the uptake rate of TLH showed a two‐fold increase during the intervention period (2.08, 95% CI: 1.16–8.56, P < 0.001) and a 12% increase was retained during the follow‐up period (1.12, 95% CI: 0.54–4.02, P = 0.427). Pre‐intervention, across all sites, 24% of hysterectomies were performed via TAH by the participating specialist trainees, which decreased to 13% during the intervention and 14% during follow‐up. The rate of adverse events decreased from 13.5% at pre‐intervention, to 6.4% during and 4.2% post‐intervention. By comparison, no change in surgical approach or rate of adverse events was observed in the control group.ConclusionsThe implementation of a formal and structured surgical training program teaching TLH resulted in important benefits to trainees, patients and society in the four trial hospitals.