Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35697853›Full record

SynthesisSurgical endoscopy2022

The learning curve of laparoscopic, robot-assisted and transanal total mesorectal excisions: a systematic review.

Thijs A Burghgraef, Daan J Sikkenk, Paul M Verheijen, Mostafa El Moumni, Roel Hompes, Esther C J Consten

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Surgical endoscopy, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 29 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
29citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

29 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  11. Short-term outcomes of laparoscopic-assisted transanalWorld journal of gastrointestinal surgery · 2026
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  20. [Robotic rectal surgery].Chirurgie (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2024
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Thijs A BurghgraefDepartment of Surgery, Meander Medical Center, Maatweg 3, 3813 TZ, Amersfoort, the Netherlands. ta.burghgraef@umcg.nl.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8781-9630
Daan J SikkenkDepartment of Surgery, Meander Medical Center, Maatweg 3, 3813 TZ, Amersfoort, the Netherlands.
Paul M VerheijenDepartment of Surgery, Meander Medical Center, Maatweg 3, 3813 TZ, Amersfoort, the Netherlands.
Mostafa El MoumniDepartment of Surgery, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, the Netherlands.
Roel HompesDepartment of Surgery, University Medical Center Amsterdam, Location AMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Esther C J ConstenDepartment of Surgery, Meander Medical Center, Maatweg 3, 3813 TZ, Amersfoort, the Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe standard treatment of rectal carcinoma is surgical resection according to the total mesorectal excision principle, either by open, laparoscopic, robot-assisted or transanal technique. No clear consensus exists regarding the length of the learning curve for the minimal invasive techniques. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of the current literature regarding the learning curve of minimal invasive TME.

methodsA systematic literature search was performed. PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library were searched for studies with the primary or secondary aim to assess the learning curve of either laparoscopic, robot-assisted or transanal TME for rectal cancer. The primary outcome was length of the learning curve per minimal invasive technique. Descriptive statistics were used to present results and the MINORS tool was used to assess risk of bias.

results45 studies, with 7562 patients, were included in this systematic review. Length of the learning curve based on intraoperative complications, postoperative complications, pathological outcomes, or a composite endpoint using a risk-adjusted CUSUM analysis was 50 procedures for the laparoscopic technique, 32-75 procedures for the robot-assisted technique and 36-54 procedures for the transanal technique. Due to the low quality of studies and a high level of heterogeneity a meta-analysis could not be performed. Heterogeneity was caused by patient-related factors, surgeon-related factors and differences in statistical methods.

conclusionCurrent high-quality literature regarding length of the learning curve of minimal invasive TME techniques is scarce. Available literature suggests equal lengths of the learning curves of laparoscopic, robot-assisted and transanal TME. Well-designed studies, using adequate statistical methods are required to properly assess the learning curve, while taking into account patient-related and surgeon-related factors.

Indexed as

LaparoscopyRectal NeoplasmsRoboticsTransanal Endoscopic SurgeryHumansLearning CurvePostoperative ComplicationsRectumTreatment OutcomeLaparoscopyLearning curveRobot-assistedTotal mesorectal excisionTransanal

Identifiers

PMID35697853
PMCPMC9402498

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.