%0 Journal Article
%T The impact of surgeon's academic leave on surgical outcomes for endoscopic transsphenoidal resection of pituitary tumors.
%A Yan JL
%A Stovell MG
%A Chang CN
%J Gland Surg
%V 13
%N 2
%D 2024 Feb 29
%M 38455343
%F 2.16
%R 10.21037/gs-23-347
%X <B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Endoscopic surgery has become the mainstay of pituitary surgery, but requires comprehensive surgical training. We evaluate the impact of a surgeon's academic leave during endoscopic training on surgical outcomes of patients with pituitary tumors.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>This retrospective study reviewed the surgical outcomes of endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary tumors performed by a single surgeon. The last 56 surgical cases were performed between July 2010 and August 2014 before academic leave (Phase 1 surgery group), while another 56 consecutive cases were performed between November 2017 and March 2020 immediately after the surgeon's academic leave (Phase 2 surgery group). Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected and compared between the two surgery groups.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Overall, most surgical outcomes of endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery were not affected adversely by the period of academic leave. The operative time and length of hospital stay was lower in the Phase 2 surgery group compared to the Phase 1 surgery group (P<0.05). Postoperative tumor residual, intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks and reoperation also decreased significantly in the Phase 2 group compared to the Phase 1 group (P<0.05). Similar results were observed in patients operated using a one-hand/mono-nostril and two-hand/one-and-half nostril technique.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Academic leave had no negative impact on most surgical outcomes for endoscopic transsphenoidal resection of pituitary tumors. Moreover, a trend toward shorter operative times and length of hospital stays was noted for patients receiving surgery immediately after surgeon's return from leave.