Resident training in a new robotic thoracic surgery program.

Area of Science:

• Thoracic Surgery
• Robotic Surgery
• Surgical Education

Background:

• Robot-assisted surgery volume has surged, yet resident training in this area lags.
• This study addresses the gap by evaluating resident involvement in thoracic robotic surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess resident participation in thoracic robotic surgery.
• To evaluate the impact of resident involvement on patient outcomes and operative efficiency.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of the first 100 robotic thoracic surgery cases.
• Categorization into three cohorts to analyze changes over time.
• Evaluation of procedure types, patient/operative characteristics, and resident's role (primary surgeon or assistant).

Main Results:

• Lung resections became more prevalent over time.
• Resident participation as primary surgeon increased significantly (33% to 59%).
• No significant differences in patient characteristics, operative time, blood loss, or length of stay were observed based on resident participation level.

Conclusions:

• Residents can serve as primary surgeons in diverse thoracic robotic procedures.
• Resident involvement as primary surgeon is feasible and safe during robotics program implementation.
• Key surgical outcomes remain consistent regardless of the level of resident participation.