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Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Investigating Motor Skill Learning Processes with a Robotic Manipulandum
Published on: February 12, 2017
Learning robotic pyeloplasty without simulators: an assessment of the learning curve in the early robotic era
Mario F Chammas1, Anuar I Mitre1,2, Marco A Arap1,2
1Divisao de Urologia, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, BR.
Objective:
To analyze our experience and learning curve for robotic pyeloplasty during this robotic procedure.
Methods:
Ninety-nine patients underwent 100 consecutive procedures. Cases were divided into 4 groups of 25 consecutive procedures to analyze the learning curve.
Results:
The median anastomosis times were 50.0, 36.8, 34.2 and 29.0 minutes (p=0.137) in the sequential groups, respectively. The median operative times were 144.6, 119.2, 114.5 and 94.6 minutes, with a significant difference between groups 1 and 2 (p=0.015), 1 and 3 (p=0.002), 1 and 4 (p<0.001) and 2 and 4 (p=0.022). The mean hospital stay was 7.08, 4.76, 4.88 and 4.20 days, with a difference between groups 1 and 2 (p<0.001), 1 and 3 (p<0.001) and 1 and 4 (p<0.001). Clinical and radiological improvements were observed in 98.9% of patients. One patient presented with recurrent obstruction.
Conclusions:
Our results demonstrate a high success rate with low complication rates. A significant decrease in hospital stay and surgical time was evident after 25 cases.
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