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SAGES expert Delphi consensus: critical factors for safe surgical practice in laparoscopic cholecystectomy

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Abstract

Background

Although it has been 25 years since the introduction of laparoscopy to cholecystectomy, outcomes remain largely unchanged, with rates of bile duct injury higher in the modern age than in the era of open surgery. The SAGES Safe Cholecystectomy Task Force (SCTF) initiative seeks to encourage a culture of safety in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and reduce biliary injury. An expert consensus study was conducted to identify interventions thought to be most effective in pursuit of this goal.

Methods

An initial list of items for safer practice in LC was identified by the SCTF through a nominal group technique (NGT) process. These were put forward to 407 SAGES committee members in two-stage electronically distributed Delphi surveys. Consensus was achieved if at least 80 % of respondents ranked an item as 4 or 5 on a Likert scale of importance (1–5). Additionally, respondents ranked five top areas of importance for the following domains: training, assessment, and research.

Results

Thirty-nine initial items were identified through NGT. Response rates for each Delphi round were 40.2 and 34 %, respectively. Final consensus was achieved on 15 items, the majority of which related to non-technical factors in LC. Key domains for training, assessment, and research were identified. Critical view of safety was deemed most important for overall safety, as well as training and assessment of LC. Intraoperative cholangiography was identified as an additional priority area for future research.

Conclusions

Consensus items to progress surgical practice, training, assessment, and research have been identified, to promote safe practice and improve patient outcomes in LC.

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Disclosures

Rajesh Aggarwal is a consultant for Applied Medical. Robert D. Fanelli is a consultant for EndoGastric Solutions and Cook Surgical, Inc. All other authors declare no financial ties or conflicts of interest.

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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Philip H. Pucher.

Additional information

On behalf of the SAGES Safe Cholecystectomy Task Force.

Appendices

Appendix 1

See Table 4

Table 4 Detailed Delphi consensus results

Appendix 2

See Table 5

Table 5 Results of Delphi consensus to select top five factors relevant to training

Appendix 3

See Table 6

Table 6 Results of Delphi consensus to select top five factors relevant to assessment

Appendix 4

See Table 7

Table 7 Results of Delphi consensus to select top five factors relevant to research

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Pucher, P.H., Brunt, L.M., Fanelli, R.D. et al. SAGES expert Delphi consensus: critical factors for safe surgical practice in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Surg Endosc 29, 3074–3085 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-015-4079-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-015-4079-z

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