Redefining robotic surgical education: teleproctoring feasibility and trainee perception

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Medical Technology
• Robotic Surgery

Background:

• Traditional surgical mentoring faces logistical challenges, particularly in robotic surgery.
• Teleproctoring presents a remote solution to overcome these barriers.
• Enhancing access to expert guidance is crucial for surgical training advancement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and trainee perception of teleproctoring in robotic surgery.
• To assess the effectiveness of remote guidance using the Proximie platform.
• To determine the impact of teleproctoring on surgeon confidence and educational value.

Main Methods:

• A prospective trial involving 18 surgeons with limited robotic experience.
• Standardized enterotomy closure on synthetic bowel models using the da Vinci Si system.
• Real-time remote guidance from an expert 2570 km away via the Proximie platform.

Main Results:

• High ratings for technical aspects: image quality, audio, and annotation functionality.
• Positive reports on overall satisfaction, confidence gained, and educational value.
• Telestration features facilitated seamless guidance within the robotic console without workflow disruption.

Conclusions:

• Teleproctoring is a feasible and well-received strategy for robotic surgery training.
• This remote mentoring approach can expand access to expert surgical mentorship.
• Teleproctoring supports global initiatives in surgical education and skill development.