Surgeons' previous experience and participation in structured training programmes are associated with shorter robot-assisted learning curves¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · review r3 · q2
Currency · newest study 2020 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? In three of five studies comparing operating-time learning curves of robotic surgeons, those with greater experience required fewer procedures to overcome their learning curve. → Soomro N. A. 2020 q2 i? In one small study, three surgeons who had participated in an institutional training programme overcame the learning curve for robot-assisted colorectal resection in 25–30 procedures each, versus 74 procedures for an earlier surgeon who joined before the programme was established. → Soomro N. A. 2020 (2)

Evidence¶

Soomro N. A. 2020¶

Soomro N. A., Hashimoto D. A., Porteous A. J., Ridley C. J. A., Marsh W. J., Ditto R. and Roy S. (2020). Systematic review of learning curves in robot‐assisted surgery. BJS Open. https://doi.org/10.1002/bjs5.50235

q2 · i? · review · r3

The review's discussion of moderators, synthesizing five studies comparing operating-time learning curves by prior experience. The review notes studies generally did not report participants' specific grade or training experience, limiting interpretation.

"in three of five studies comparing the operating time learning curves of robotic surgeons, those with greater experience required fewer procedures to overcome their learning curve16, 29, 38."

Soomro N. A. 2020 (2)¶

Soomro N. A., Hashimoto D. A., Porteous A. J., Ridley C. J. A., Marsh W. J., Ditto R. and Roy S. (2020). Systematic review of learning curves in robot‐assisted surgery. BJS Open. https://doi.org/10.1002/bjs5.50235

q2 · i? · review · r3

The review attributes this finding to Guend and colleagues, describing it as based on a small sample size. The review notes few studies provided details of their training programmes, and mentions recent programmes using feedback loops to shorten time to adequate performance.

"Guend and colleagues27 reported that a lower procedure volume was required to overcome the learning curve for robot‐assisted colorectal resections for three surgeons who had participated in an institutional training programme (25–30 procedures each), compared with the volume required for an earlier surgeon who joined the institution before the programme was established (74 procedures)."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Learning curve estimates in robot-assisted surgery vary substantially between studies of the same procedure and are subject to considerable uncertainty — related
• VR simulation training improves orthopaedic trainees' technical proficiency and shortens operative times — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Fellowship-trained surgeons showed shorter operative times and fewer complications compared with non-fellowship peers — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Time-based metrics dominate robot-assisted learning curve assessment, and recovery and safety metrics show substantially longer learning curves than operating time — related