Optimizing the robotic surgery team: an operations management perspective

Area of Science:

• Urogynecology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Robotic Surgery

Background:

• Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) management often involves robotically assisted sacrocolpopexy (RASCP).
• Optimizing operating room (OR) time is crucial for efficiency in robotic procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the experience threshold for each surgical team member to optimize OR time in RASCP.
• To identify the most efficient team compositions for RASCP.

Main Methods:

• Prospective database of 359 women undergoing RASCP for stage III-IV POP.
• Statistical analyses including factor analysis, regression, and ANOVA were used.
• OR time mapping and stochastic optimization identified optimal team configurations.

Main Results:

• Optimal experience levels: surgeon (44), first assistant (13), surgical technologist (66), circulating nurse (56), anesthesia provider (46).
• Surgical technologist and first assistant experience significantly impacted OR time.
• Surgeon experience ranked third, followed by circulating nurse and anesthesia provider.

Conclusions:

• Operating time in robotic surgery is influenced by multiple factors, with team member experience being critical.
• Optimal team composition for RASCP can be achieved through various combinations of experience levels.