Effective implementation and adaptation of structured robotic colorectal programme in a busy tertiary unit

Robotic Technology in Emergency General Surgery Cases in the Era of Minimally Invasive Surgery

Importance

Although robotic surgery has become an established approach for a wide range of elective operations, data on its utility and outcomes are limited in the setting of emergency general surgery.

Objectives

To describe temporal trends in the use of laparoscopic and robotic approaches and compare outcomes between robotic and laparoscopic surgery for 4 common emergent surgical procedures.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A retrospective cohort study of an all-payer discharge database of 829 US facilities was conducted from calendar years 2013 to 2021. Data analysis was performed from July 2022 to November 2023. A total of 1 067 263 emergent or urgent cholecystectomies (n = 793 800), colectomies (n = 89 098), inguinal hernia repairs (n = 65 039), and ventral hernia repairs (n = 119 326) in patients aged 18 years or older were included.

Exposure

Surgical approach (robotic, laparoscopic, or open) to emergent or urgent cholecystectomy, colectomy, inguinal hernia repair, or ventral hernia repair.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was the temporal trend in use of each operative approach (laparoscopic, robotic, or open). Secondary outcomes included conversion to open surgery and length of stay (both total and postoperative). Temporal trends were measured using linear regression. Propensity score matching was used to compare secondary outcomes between robotic and laparoscopic surgery groups.

Results

During the study period, the use of robotic surgery increased significantly year-over-year for all procedures: 0.7% for cholecystectomy, 0.9% for colectomy, 1.9% for inguinal hernia repair, and 1.1% for ventral hernia repair. There was a corresponding decrease in the open surgical approach for all cases. Compared with laparoscopy, robotic surgery was associated with a significantly lower risk of conversion to open surgery: cholecystectomy, 1.7% vs 3.0% (odds ratio [OR], 0.55 [95% CI, 0.49-0.62]); colectomy, 11.2% vs 25.5% (OR, 0.37 [95% CI, 0.32-0.42]); inguinal hernia repair, 2.4% vs 10.7% (OR, 0.21 [95% CI, 0.16-0.26]); and ventral hernia repair, 3.5% vs 10.9% (OR, 0.30 [95% CI, 0.25-0.36]). Robotic surgery was associated with shorter postoperative lengths of stay for colectomy (-0.48 [95% CI, -0.60 to -0.35] days), inguinal hernia repair (-0.20 [95% CI, -0.30 to -0.10] days), and ventral hernia repair (-0.16 [95% CI, -0.26 to -0.06] days).

Conclusions and Relevance

While robotic surgery is still not broadly used for emergency general surgery, the findings of this study suggest it is becoming more prevalent and may be associated with better outcomes as measured by reduced conversion to open surgery and decreased length of stay.

The current status of robotic colorectal surgery training programmes

Robotic-assisted colorectal surgery (RACS) is steadily increasing in popularity with an annual growth in the number of colorectal procedures undertaken robotically. Further upscaling of RACS requires structured and standardised robotic training to safeguard high-quality clinical outcomes. The aims of this systematic review were to assess the structure and assessment metrics of currently established RACS training programmes. A systematic review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines was performed. Searches were performed of the Ovid Medline, Embase and Web of Science databases between 2000 and 27th November 2021 to identify studies reporting on training curricula in RACS. Core components of training programmes and their relevant outcome assessment metrics were extracted. Thirteen studies were identified, with all training programmes designed for the da Vinci platform (Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA). Common elements of multimodal programmes included theoretical knowledge (76.9%), case observation (53.8%), simulation (100%) and proctored training (76.9%). Robotic skills acquisition was assessed primarily during the simulation phase (n = 4, 30.1%) and proctoring phase (n = 10, 76.9%). Performance metrics, consisting of time or assessment scores for VR simulation were only mandated in four (30.1%) studies. Objective assessment following proctored training was variably reported and employed a range of assessment metrics, including direct feedback (n = 3, 23.1%) or video feedback (n = 8, 61.5%). Five (38.4%) training programmes used the Global Assessment Score (GAS) forms. There is a broad consensus on the core multimodal components across current RACS training programmes; however, validated objective assessment is limited and needs to be appropriately standardised to ensure reproducible progression criteria and competency-based metrics are produced to robustly assess progression and competence.

Structured training curricula for robotic colorectal surgery in China: does laparoscopic experience affect training effects?

Background

Robotic surgery has been widely adopted for colorectal cancer (CRC). Many surgeons in China have completed structured training programs and have performed robotic colorectal surgeries. This multicenter study aimed to evaluate the training effects of structured training curricula in China for surgeons with different laparoscopic experiences during their initial implementation of robotic colorectal surgery.

Methods

Ten surgeons from five high-volume centers participated in this retrospective study. The baseline characteristics, perioperative data, and pathological outcomes were compared between the first 15 robotic surgeries performed by five surgeons with extensive laparoscopic experience (group A) and the first 15 robotic surgeries performed by five surgeons with limited laparoscopic experience (group B) at each center.

Results

Compared with group B, group A showed shorter operation time (200.9 vs. 254.2 min, P<0.001), less blood loss (100.0 vs. 150.0 mL, P=0.025), and a lower incidence of intraoperative complications (2.7% vs. 21.4%, P=0.015). The reoperation rate (1.3% vs. 5.3%, P=0.036) and postoperative complication rate (6.7% vs. 22.7%, P=0.025) were significantly lower in group A than in group B. There were no statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics (e.g., age, sex, and tumor location) and pathological information (e.g., tumor stage, lymph node count, and tumor size) between the two groups. Radical resection (R0) was performed in all cases.

Conclusions

In China, structured training curricula can help surgeons with extensive laparoscopic experience make a smooth transition from laparoscopic to robotic surgery. However, the higher intraoperative and postoperative complication rates indicate that structured training curricula still require further refinement for surgeons with limited laparoscopic experience.

RoCS: Robotic Curriculum for young Surgeons

Robotic-assisted procedures gain increasing acceptance for daily surgical routine. However, structured training programs are designed for surgeons with high expertise. Hence, a comprehensive training curriculum was established to ensure a basic competence in robotic abdominal surgery for young surgeons during their residency. The aim of the current work is to propose a feasible and effective training concept. The development process of this training curriculum is based on a comprehensive literature review which led to the concept of "robotic curriculum for young surgeons" (RoCS). It was implemented in the daily routine of a German university hospital starting in 2020. The robotic assessment questionnaire (RAQ) was used for electronic data collection. After the initial phase adjustments, it led to an improvement of the initial version of the curriculum. RoCS is a multimodal training program containing basic training through assistance at the operation table during robotic-assisted operations and basic console training. Key elements are the robotic team time-out (rTTO), perioperative process standardization including feasible personnel scheduling and useful procedure clustering into organ systems, procedural steps and procedural step complexity. Evaluation of standardized communication, performance assessment, patient factors and individual overall workload using NASA Task Load Index is realizable. Flexibility and adaptability to internal organization processes of surgical departments are the main advantages of the concept. RoCS is a strong training tool to meet the specific needs of young surgeons and evaluate their learning success of robotic procedural training. Furthermore, comparison within the different robotic systems should be considered. Further studies are needed to validate a multicenter concept design.

Survey Regarding Gastrointestinal Stoma Construction and Closure in Japan

Background and Aim

In Japan, the actual number of stoma constructions and stoma closures is not known. The aim of this study was to conduct a survey to determine the number of gastrointestinal stoma constructions and closures in Japan.

Methods

Enrolled participants comprised patients undergoing selected gastrointestinal surgeries who were recorded in the National Clinical Database. This database uses the "Common Items for Gastrointestinal Surgeons." These procedures were formulated by the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery during 2013-2018.

Results

According to the National Clinical Database, a total of 154,323 gastrointestinal stomas were constructed between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2018. By procedure, there were 78,723 cases of stoma construction, 39,653 of abdominoperineal resection, 2470 total pelvic exenteration procedures, and 33,572 Hartmann's procedures. The ratio of stoma closures to stoma constructions increased annually in patients under 70 y of age but not in older patients. Approximately 35% of total colectomies, 60% of proctocolectomies, and 20% of low anterior resections were accompanied by stoma construction. The number of patients with rectal cancer who underwent colostomy increased gradually during the study period and the number who underwent stoma construction increased among older patients.

Conclusion

The number of cases of gastrointestinal stoma construction has increased gradually in Japan, and the proportion of older patients is increasing each year. The purposes and surgical techniques for stoma construction are diverse and are expected to increase in Japan, a super-aged society.

Robotic surgery in emergency setting: 2021 WSES position paper

Background

Robotics represents the most technologically advanced approach in minimally invasive surgery (MIS). Its application in general surgery has increased progressively, with some early experience reported in emergency settings. The present position paper, supported by the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES), aims to provide a systematic review of the literature to develop consensus statements about the potential use of robotics in emergency general surgery.

Methods

This position paper was conducted according to the WSES methodology. A steering committee was constituted to draft the position paper according to the literature review. An international expert panel then critically revised the manuscript. Each statement was voted through a web survey to reach a consensus.

Results

Ten studies (3 case reports, 3 case series, and 4 retrospective comparative cohort studies) have been published regarding the applications of robotics for emergency general surgery procedures. Due to the paucity and overall low quality of evidence, 6 statements are proposed as expert opinions. In general, the experts claim for a strict patient selection while approaching emergent general surgery procedures with robotics, eventually considering it for hemodynamically stable patients only. An emergency setting should not be seen as an absolute contraindication for robotic surgery if an adequate training of the operating surgical team is available. In such conditions, robotic surgery can be considered safe, feasible, and associated with surgical outcomes related to an MIS approach. However, there are some concerns regarding the adoption of robotic surgery for emergency surgeries associated with the following: (i) the availability and accessibility of the robotic platform for emergency units and during night shifts, (ii) expected longer operative times, and (iii) increased costs. Further research is necessary to investigate the role of robotic surgery in emergency settings and to explore the possibility of performing telementoring and telesurgery, which are particularly valuable in emergency situations.

Conclusions

Many hospitals are currently equipped with a robotic surgical platform which needs to be implemented efficiently. The role of robotic surgery for emergency procedures remains under investigation. However, its use is expanding with a careful assessment of costs and timeliness of operations. The proposed statements should be seen as a preliminary guide for the surgical community stressing the need for reevaluation and update processes as evidence expands in the relevant literature.

Supporting laparoscopic general surgery training with digital technology: The United Kingdom and Ireland paradigm

Surgical training in the UK and Ireland has faced challenges following the implementation of the European Working Time Directive and postgraduate training reform. The health services are undergoing a digital transformation; digital technology is remodelling the delivery of surgical care and surgical training. This review aims to critically evaluate key issues in laparoscopic general surgical training and the digital technology such as virtual and augmented reality, telementoring and automated workflow analysis and surgical skills assessment. We include pre-clinical, proof of concept research and commercial systems that are being developed to provide solutions. Digital surgical technology is evolving through interdisciplinary collaboration to provide widespread access to high-quality laparoscopic general surgery training and assessment. In the future this could lead to integrated, context-aware systems that support surgical teams in providing safer surgical care.