Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Implementing a robotics curriculum at an academic general surgery training program: our initial experience

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Robotic Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The robotic surgical platform is being utilized by a growing number of hospitals across the country, including academic medical centers. Training programs are tasked with teaching their residents how to utilize this technology. To this end, we have developed and implemented a robotic surgical curriculum, and share our initial experience here. Our curriculum was implemented for all General Surgical residents for the academic year 2014–2015. The curriculum consisted of online training, readings, bedside training, console simulation, participating in ten cases as bedside first assistant, and operating at the console. 20 surgical residents were included. Residents were provided the curriculum and notified the department upon completion. Bedside assistance and operative console training were completed in the operating room through a mix of biliary, foregut, and colorectal cases. During the fiscal years of 2014 and 2015, there were 164 and 263 robot-assisted surgeries performed within the General Surgery Department, respectively. All 20 residents completed the online and bedside instruction portions of the curriculum. Of the 20 residents trained, 13/20 (65 %) sat at the Surgeon console during at least one case. Utilizing this curriculum, we have trained and incorporated residents into robot-assisted cases in an efficient manner. A successful curriculum must be based on didactic learning, reading, bedside training, simulation, and training in the operating room. Each program must examine their caseload and resident class to ensure proper exposure to this platform.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Wormer BA, Dacey KT, Williams KB, Bradley JF 3rd, Walters AL, Augenstein VA et al (2014) The first nationwide evaluation of robotic general surgery: a regionalized, small but safe start. Surg Endosc 28(3):767–776. doi:10.1007/s00464-013-3239-2

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Salman M, Bell T, Martin J, Bhuva K, Grim R, Ahuja V (2013) Use, cost, complications, and mortality of robotic versus nonrobotic general surgery procedures based on a nationwide database. Am surg 79(6):553–560

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Herron DM, Marohn M, Group S-MRSC (2008) A consensus document on robotic surgery. Surg Endosc 22(2):313–325. doi:10.1007/s00464-007-9727-5 (discussion 1–2)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Barbash GI, Glied SA (2010) New technology and health care costs—the case of robot-assisted surgery. New Engl J Med 363(8):701–704. doi:10.1056/NEJMp1006602

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Buchs NC, Addeo P, Bianco FM, Gorodner V, Ayloo SM, Elli EF et al (2012) Perioperative risk assessment in robotic general surgery: lessons learned from 884 cases at a single institution. Arch Surg 147(8):701–708. doi:10.1001/archsurg.2012.496

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Hung AJ, Zehnder P, Patil MB, Cai J, Ng CK, Aron M et al (2011) Face, content and construct validity of a novel robotic surgery simulator. J Urol 186(3):1019–1024. doi:10.1016/j.juro.2011.04.064

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Maeso S, Reza M, Mayol JA, Blasco JA, Guerra M, Andradas E et al (2010) Efficacy of the Da Vinci surgical system in abdominal surgery compared with that of laparoscopy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Surg 252(2):254–262. doi:10.1097/SLA.0b013e3181e6239e

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Rashid HH, Leung YY, Rashid MJ, Oleyourryk G, Valvo JR, Eichel L (2006) Robotic surgical education: a systematic approach to training urology residents to perform robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Urology 68(1):75–79. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2006.01.057

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Schroeck FR, de Sousa CA, Kalman RA, Kalia MS, Pierre SA, Haleblian GE et al (2008) Trainees do not negatively impact the institutional learning curve for robotic prostatectomy as characterized by operative time, estimated blood loss, and positive surgical margin rate. Urology 71(4):597–601. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2007.12.023

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Juza RMHRS, Won EJ, Enomoto LM, Pauli EM, Rogers AM, Singhal V, Tran TT, Estes SJ, LynSue JR (2014) Training current and future robotic surgeons simultaneously: initial experiences with safety and efficiency. J Robot Surg 8:227–231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Scozzari G, Rebecchi F, Millo P, Rocchietto S, Allieta R, Morino M (2011) Robot-assisted gastrojejunal anastomosis does not improve the results of the laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Surg Endosc 25(2):597–603. doi:10.1007/s00464-010-1229-1

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Seixas-Mikelus SA, Adal A, Kesavadas T, Baheti A, Srimathveeravalli G, Hussain A et al (2010) Can image-based virtual reality help teach anatomy? J Endourol/Endourol Soc 24(4):629–634. doi:10.1089/end.2009.0556

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Stegemann AP, Ahmed K, Syed JR, Rehman S, Ghani K, Autorino R et al (2013) Fundamental skills of robotic surgery: a multi-institutional randomized controlled trial for validation of a simulation-based curriculum. Urology 81(4):767–774. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2012.12.033

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Raza SJ, Froghi S, Chowriappa A, Ahmed K, Field E, Stegemann AP et al (2014) Construct validation of the key components of fundamental skills of robotic surgery (FSRS) curriculum—a multi-institution prospective study. J Surg Educ 71(3):316–324. doi:10.1016/j.jsurg.2013.10.006

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Syana SRP, Gilla IS, Arona M, Hunga AJ (2013) Does virtual performance correlate with clinical skills in robotics? Investigating concurrent validity of da vinci simulation with clinical performance. J Urol 189(4):e643. doi:10.1016/j.juro.2013.02.3097

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Stefanidis D, Acker CE, Greene FL (2010) Performance goals on simulators boost resident motivation and skills laboratory attendance. J Surg Educ 67(2):66–70. doi:10.1016/j.jsurg.2010.02.002

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Rocco B, Lorusso A, Coelho RF, Palmer KJ, Patel VR (2009) Building a robotic program. Scand J Surg SJS Off Organ Finn Surg Soc Scand Surg Soc 98(2):72–75

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, The Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, MC H159, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA

    Joshua S. Winder, Ryan M. Juza, Jennifer Sasaki, Ann M. Rogers, Eric M. Pauli, Randy S. Haluck & Jerome R. Lyn-Sue

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA

    Stephanie J. Estes

Authors
  1. Joshua S. Winder
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ryan M. Juza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jennifer Sasaki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ann M. Rogers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Eric M. Pauli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Randy S. Haluck
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Stephanie J. Estes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Jerome R. Lyn-Sue
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joshua S. Winder.

Ethics declarations

Funding

We did not receive any funding for this study.

Conflict of interest

EMP receives honoraria for speaking/teaching from Cook Biotech Inc. All other authors have no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Winder, J.S., Juza, R.M., Sasaki, J. et al. Implementing a robotics curriculum at an academic general surgery training program: our initial experience. J Robotic Surg 10, 209–213 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11701-016-0569-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11701-016-0569-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation