Novel telementoring system for robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: impact on the learning curve

To develop a Web-based audiovisual telementoring system for robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and to assess the utility of this system.

A telementoring system for RARP, consisting of a 3-dimensional high-definition view of the operating field, overview of the operating room, annotation function, and 2-channel audio feed with bidirectional connectivity between 2 institutions, was developed. The outcome of RARP performed for the initial 30 patients by 2 surgeons with telementoring was compared with that for 2 surgeons who received direct mentoring.

This system was shown to function properly with an acceptable latency. There were no significant differences in several parameters reflecting surgical outcomes, including the operating time, complication rate, early continence status, and positive margin rate between the telementoring and direct mentoring groups.

These findings suggest the usefulness of the telementoring system for promoting the spread of precise surgical techniques associated with RARP. To our knowledge, this is the first report concerning telementoring for robot-assisted surgery.