Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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Multicenter Study
Training High-Volume Melanoma Surgeons to Perform a Novel Minimally Invasive Inguinal Lymphadenectomy: Report of a Prospective Multi-Institutional Trial.
Minimally invasive inguinal lymphadenectomy (MILND) is a novel procedure with the potential to decrease surgical morbidity compared with the traditional open approach. The current study examined the feasibility of a combined didactic and hands-on training program to prepare high-volume melanoma surgeons to perform this procedure safely and proficiently. ⋯ After a structured training program, experienced melanoma surgeons adopted a novel surgical technique with acceptable operative times, conversions, and lymph node yield. Eighty-four percent of the surgeons who completed at least 6 MILND procedures were considered proficient based on our predetermined definition.