Poster1 - 01: ROBOTIC SURGERY TRAINING CURRICULA IN GENERAL SURGERY RESIDENCY PROGRAMS: WHERE ARE WE?
Cynthia M Tom, MD, James D Maciel, MD, Abraham Korn, MD, Junko J Ozao-Choy, MD, Danielle M Hari, MD, Angela L Neville, MD, Christian de Virgilio, MD, Christine Dauphine, MD; Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

BACKGROUND: Robotic surgery is increasingly utilized within general surgical practice. However, general surgery residents have varying levels of exposure to robotic surgery. Currently, there is no standardized robotic surgery curriculum to educate residents. The aim of this study was to assess the overall state of robotic surgery training within general surgery residency program in the United States.

METHODS: A web-based questionnaire was sent in September 2017 to program administrators at 277 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited general surgery training programs in the United States. The survey inquired each program about resident involvement in robotic cases and components of robotic training curricula. 

RESULTS: Overall, 92 general surgery residency programs responded (33%). 92% (n=85) have residents participating in robotic surgeries (see Table 1 for more detailed characteristics). The robotic simulator was utilized in all curricula with the majority incorporating faculty-directed console time (88%), case observation (83%), online courses (56%), videos (53%), and industry-sponsored training courses (44%). The most common operations are hernia repairs (86%), colorectal cases (79%), and biliary cases (63%). 15 (41%) programs reported that their graduating chief residents participated in an average of 21-40 robotic cases. 50% of programs offered formal recognition for residents’ robotic expertise, in the form of a certificate (70%), letter of attestation (22%), and/or case logs (11%). Of the programs that did not have resident participation in robotic cases, 50% (n=3) intend to initiate participation and implement a curriculum within 3 years.

CONCLUSIONS: Many general surgery programs offer residents the opportunity to participate in robotic surgeries, but have varying training requirements and curricula. As robotic surgery becomes increasingly used in general surgery, there is an impending need to create standardized, validated curricula to ensure optimal assessment of residents’ learning and expertise to prepare them for fellowship and practice.