The learning curve for the Shouldice Repair: a pilot analysis of post-training specialized surgeons at the Shouldice Hospital.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate operative time and postoperative complications of 4 post-training specialized surgeons.

Methods: This was a pilot retrospective chart review to determine the learning curve of a Shouldice primary inguinal hernia repair (Shouldice Repair) of 4 post-training specialized surgeons, at the Shouldice Hospital. The first 300 Shouldice Repairs (early learning block) were compared to their 900-1,000 repairs as the primary operating surgeon (late learning block). Data was collected from the hospital's database. The learning curve was examined using cumulative sum analysis (CUSUM).

Results: During the early learning block cases, the surgeons had a mean operating time of 59.2 ± 11.2 min. The late learning block cases had significantly reduced operative time (53.4 ± 10.5 min, p = 0.001). According to the CUSUM analysis all four surgeons had a plateau after 78 to 88 operations in terms of operative time. A nonsignificant reduction in the rate of reported recurrences (n = 16 vs. n = 0) and surgical site occurrences (haematoma, seroma, infection; n = 27 vs. n = 2) was found between the early and late learning block cases.

Conclusion: The operating time plateaued after 78-88 Shouldice Repairs for the 4 surgeons trained and working at the Shouldice Hospital. A nonsignificant trend towards fewer complications were noted among late learning block cases.