Skill progress during a dedicated societal robotic surgery training curriculum including several robotic surgery...

Area of Science:

• Surgical Robotics
• Medical Simulation
• Surgical Education

Background:

• Robot-assisted surgery is expanding, with multiple thoraco-abdominal systems available.
• Structured training is crucial, but access to robotic systems remains limited.
• Assessing skill progression across different robotic platforms is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the skill progress of surgeons during consecutive training days.
• To assess performance improvement within a structured robotic surgery curriculum.
• To analyze skill development across various robotic surgical systems.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational study of 47 surgeons using SimNow™ simulator and questionnaires.
• Two-day hands-on training on Da Vinci® consoles, with options for VR simulation or live animal models.
• Exposure to introductory exercises on Versius, Hugo™RAS, Dexter, and ROBOTiS simulators.

Main Results:

• Participants demonstrated significant performance improvement from day 1 to day 2.
• Key improvements included enhanced economy of motion and reduced excessive force application.
• Demographics and module choice did not significantly impact overall performance scores.

Conclusions:

• A structured robotic surgery curriculum leads to significant skill enhancement in a short period.
• Integrated performance metrics effectively demonstrate surgical skill progression.
• Training across multiple robotic systems is feasible and beneficial for skill development.