First report: International proctoring of robotic colorectal surgery using TELEPRO^®

Area of Science:

• Surgical Technology
• Medical Education
• Robotics in Medicine

Background:

• Traditional proctoring in robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery (RAMIS) faces logistical challenges like cost, travel, and time.
• Remote guidance is needed to facilitate training and standardize techniques in RAMIS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of teleproctoring for RAMIS.
• To assess the performance of the TELEPRO® system in remote surgical guidance.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the TELEPRO® real-time telementoring system for remote proctoring during RAMIS.
• Leveraged shared internet access (SIA) for ultra-low-latency bidirectional communication.
• Conducted international teleproctoring for colorectal surgery procedures.

Main Results:

• The TELEPRO® system facilitated effective remote guidance during RAMIS.
• Shared internet access enabled low-latency communication, crucial for real-time mentoring.
• No major technical glitches were encountered during international teleproctoring sessions.

Conclusions:

• Teleproctoring, particularly using systems like TELEPRO®, offers a viable solution to traditional proctoring limitations in RAMIS.
• This technology can standardize surgical techniques and expand access to expert guidance globally.
• The system proved reliable for international remote proctoring in colorectal RAMIS.