Redefining robotic surgical education: teleproctoring feasibility and trainee perception

Teleproctoring offers a remote alternative to traditional surgical mentoring, addressing logistical barriers in robotic surgery education. We conducted a prospective trial to assess the feasibility and trainee perception of teleproctoring using the Proximie^® platform. Eighteen surgeons with limited robotic experience performed a standardized enterotomy closure on synthetic bowel models using the da Vinci Si system, while receiving real-time remote guidance from an expert located 2570 km away. Participants rated technical aspects-such as image quality, audio, and annotation functionality-highly. Overall satisfaction, confidence gained, and the educational value of the experience were positively reported. Telestration capabilities allowed annotations to be displayed within the robotic console, facilitating continuous guidance without disrupting the workflow. No major technical issues occurred. Teleproctoring is a feasible and well-received strategy in robotic surgery training. It may help expand access to expert mentorship and support global efforts in surgical education.