In this study of Medicare beneficiaries undergoing inpatient minimally invasive cholecystectomy, surgical complication rates, including bile duct injury, declined substantially from 2011 to 2021 despite increasing patient complexity. These improvements may reflect improved technique, overcoming the initial learning curve, or the cumulative influence of quality improvement efforts. The increasing use of drainage may reflect evolving surgical practice rather than declining quality, which underscores the need for continued investigation and surveillance.
Mullens et al. (Wed,) studied this question.