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A comprehensive review of robotic surgery curriculum and training for residents, fellows, and postgraduate surgical education

Surgical Endoscopy volume 34, pages 361–367 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

In 2017, the utilization of robotic-assisted surgery had grown 10–40-fold relative to laparoscopic surgery in common general surgery procedures. The rapid rise in the utilization of robotic-assisted surgery has necessitated a standardized training curriculum. Many curricula are currently being developed and validated. Additionally, advancements in virtual reality simulators have facilitated their integration into robotic-assisted surgery training. This review aims to highlight and discuss the features of existing curricula and robotic-assisted surgery training simulators and to provide updates on their respective validation process.

Materials and methods

A literature review was conducted using PubMed from 2000–2019 and commercial websites. Information regarding availability, content, and status of validation was collected for each current robotic-assisted surgery curriculum. This review did not qualify as human subjects research, so institutional review board approval was not required.

Results

The daVinci Technology Training Pathway and Fundamentals of Robotic Surgery are purely web-based and self-paced robotic-assisted surgery training. The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeon Robotic Masters Series, Fundamental Skills of Robot-Assisted Surgery training program, and the Robotics Training Network curriculum require trainees to be on site in order to provide expert feedback on surgical techniques and robot maintenance. Currently, there are few virtual reality simulators for robotic-assisted surgical training available on the market.

Conclusions

Didactic courses are available in all of these training programs, but their contents are inconsistent. Furthermore, the availability and nature of hands-on training offered by these curriculums are widely variable.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge and give special thanks to Drs. Sarah B. Bryczkowski, Rana Higgins, Peter M. Santoro, Daniel B. Jones, Makram Gedeon, and Rodolfo J. Oviedo, for their help in editing this manuscript.

Funding

Funding for this study was provided by the Center for Advanced Surgical Technology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medical Center, 986245, Omaha, NE, 68198-6245, USA

    Richard Chen

  2. Center for Advanced Surgical Technology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medical Center, 986246, Omaha, NE, 68198-6246, USA

    Priscila Rodrigues Armijo, Crystal Krause, Ka-Chun Siu & Dmitry Oleynikov

  3. College of Allied Health Professions, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medical Center, 984420, Omaha, NE, 68198-4420, USA

    Ka-Chun Siu

  4. Department of Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medical Center, 986245, Omaha, NE, 68198-6245, USA

    Dmitry Oleynikov

Authors
  1. Richard Chen
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  2. Priscila Rodrigues Armijo
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  3. Crystal Krause
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  4. Ka-Chun Siu
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  5. Dmitry Oleynikov
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Consortia

SAGES Robotic Task Force

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dmitry Oleynikov.

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Disclosures

Dmitry Oleynikov is a shareholder of Virtual Incision Corporation. Richard Chen, Priscila Rodrigues Armijo, Crystal Krause, and Ka-Chun Siu have no conflict of interest or financial ties to disclose.

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Chen, R., Rodrigues Armijo, P., Krause, C. et al. A comprehensive review of robotic surgery curriculum and training for residents, fellows, and postgraduate surgical education. Surg Endosc 34, 361–367 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-019-06775-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-019-06775-1

Keywords

  • Robotic surgery
  • Curriculum
  • Education
  • General surgery
  • Surgical training