[Structured Implementation and Modular In-house Training as Key Success Factors in Robotically Assisted Surgery -...

Area of Science:

• Visceral Surgery
• Robotic Surgery
• Surgical Training

Background:

• Robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) offers potential benefits but requires structured implementation.
• Evaluating training procedures is crucial for successful adoption of new surgical technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the applicability of structured implementation of RAS.
• To evaluate a modular training procedure during the implementation phase using in-house mentoring.

Main Methods:

• A Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle was used for implementation.
• Prospective data collection included patient characteristics, operation times, complications, conversion rates, and length of stay.
• A modularly defined robotic-assisted rectosigmoid resection (RARSR) was the training operation.

Main Results:

• 100 consecutive cases involving 3 trainees and an in-house mentor were evaluated.
• Qualitatively safe and successful implementation was achieved.
• A short learning curve was observed with balanced patient characteristics.

Conclusions:

• Structured implementation facilitates the safe introduction of RAS in visceral surgery.
• Modular training operations aid user adoption of RAS in clinical practice.
• This study demonstrates the effectiveness of an in-house mentoring approach for RAS implementation.