The value of surgical experience: excess costs associated with the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass learning curve

BackgroundGastric bypass has a steep learning curve that is associated with increased adverse outcomes and these adverse outcomes are associated with increases in cost. This study sought to quantify the effect of cumulative procedure volume on inpatient cost and characterize the excess cost associated with a surgeon’s learning curve.MethodsThis was a retrospective study of 29 high-volume surgeons during the first 6 years of performing gastric …