• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer

Log in
  • Search
    • Search All SAGES Content
    • Search SAGES Guidelines
    • Search the Video Library
    • Search the Image Library
    • Search the Abstracts Archive
www.sages.org

SAGES

Reimagining surgical care for a healthier world

  • Home
    • Search
    • SAGES Home
    • SAGES Foundation Home
  • About
    • Awards
    • Who Is SAGES?
    • Leadership
    • Our Mission
    • Advocacy
    • Committees
      • SAGES Board of Governors
      • Officers and Representatives of the Society
      • Committee Chairs and Co-Chairs
      • Committee Rosters
      • SAGES Past Presidents
  • Meetings
    • SAGES NBT Innovation Weekend
    • SAGES Annual Meeting
      • 2026 Scientific Session Call for Abstracts
      • 2026 Emerging Technology Call for Abstracts
    • CME Claim Form
    • SAGES Past, Present, Future, and Related Meeting Information
    • SAGES Related Meetings & Events Calendar
  • Join SAGES!
    • Membership Application
    • Membership Benefits
    • Membership Types
      • Requirements and Applications for Active Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for Affiliate Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for Associate Active Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for Candidate Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for International Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements for Medical Student Membership
    • Member Spotlight
    • Give the Gift of SAGES Membership
  • Patients
    • Join the SAGES Patient Partner Network (PPN)
    • Patient Information Brochures
    • Healthy Sooner – Patient Information for Minimally Invasive Surgery
    • Choosing Wisely – An Initiative of the ABIM Foundation
    • All in the Recovery: Colorectal Cancer Alliance
    • Find A SAGES Surgeon
  • Publications
    • Sustainability in Surgical Practice
    • SAGES Stories Podcast
    • Patient Information Brochures
    • Patient Information From SAGES
    • TAVAC – Technology and Value Assessments
    • Surgical Endoscopy and Other Journal Information
    • SAGES Manuals
    • MesSAGES – The SAGES Newsletter
    • COVID-19 Archive
    • Troubleshooting Guides
  • Education
    • Wellness Resources – You Are Not Alone
    • Avoid Opiates After Surgery
    • SAGES Subscription Catalog
    • SAGES TV: Home of SAGES Surgical Videos
    • The SAGES Safe Cholecystectomy Program
    • Masters Program
    • Resident and Fellow Opportunities
      • MIS Fellows Course
      • SAGES Robotics Residents and Fellows Courses
      • SAGES Free Resident Webinar Series
      • Fluorescence-Guided Surgery Course for Fellows
      • Fellows’ Career Development Course
    • SAGES S.M.A.R.T. Enhanced Recovery Program
    • SAGES @ Cine-Med Products
      • SAGES Top 21 Minimally Invasive Procedures Every Practicing Surgeon Should Know
      • SAGES Pearls Step-by-Step
      • SAGES Flexible Endoscopy 101
    • SAGES OR SAFETY Video Activity
  • Opportunities
    • Fellowship Recognition Opportunities
    • SAGES Advanced Flexible Endoscopy Area of Concentrated Training (ACT) SEAL
    • Multi-Society Foregut Fellowship Certification
    • Research Opportunities
    • FLS
    • FES
    • FUSE
    • Jobs Board
    • SAGES Go Global: Global Affairs and Humanitarian Efforts
  • OWLS/FLS
You are here: Home / Abstracts / Don\’t Fear the Learning Curve for Robotic Colorectal Surgery: A Young Surgeon\’s Experience

Don\’t Fear the Learning Curve for Robotic Colorectal Surgery: A Young Surgeon\’s Experience

Imad Qayyum, MD, David Mateo de Acosta, MD, Brant Clatterbuck, David L Crawford, MD, FACS, Steven S Tsoraides, MD. University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria

INTRODUCTION – Many reports have documented the learning curve for robotic colorectal surgery. Little exists describing the experience of a junior surgeon recently out of training.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES – A retrospective review of consecutive robotic colorectal resections performed by a single surgeon during the first two years of practice (October 2011 – October 2013) was performed. A total of 50 cases were performed using the robot. After exclusion of rectopexy and right-sided procedures, 45 cases were reviewed including sigmoid & anterior resection, low anterior resection, and abdominal perineal resection. NCCN guidelines were followed in the management of all malignancies.

The surgeon’s exposure to robotics during training included 9 console cases during general surgery residency, and additional cases as first assistant. Nine assistant cases were experienced during colorectal residency.

The initial 10 cases in the series were performed utilizing an experienced senior partner as the first assistant. The subsequent cases were typically performed with a surgical resident or surgical technologist as first assistant. On occasion, an attending surgeon performed a procedure in combination with the junior surgeon. Cases were routinely executed in a total robotic fashion. A transition occurred to a two-dock technique from a single-dock technique during the study phase. The splenic flexure is routinely mobilized during low anterior resections and most anterior/sigmoid resections.

Patients were selected based on surgeon preference. The robotic approach is the preferred approach for rectal surgery and all included cases were considered elective. Very few elective open rectal cases were scheduled during the study period.

RESULTS – Total operative time for included cases was 313 min, with a mean docking time of 36 min and mean console time of 148 min. When comparing the first half of cases to the second half with a paired t-test, calculated p values suggested no significant difference was found: Total mean operative time 324 min vs. 302 min. Mean docking time 36 min vs. 36 min. Mean console time 139 min vs. 157 min. Mean lymph node retrieval across the series was 14.5 nodes: 16.2 nodes vs. 12.9 nodes, with this difference being statistically insignificant. Conversion to open surgery occurred in 1 case due to extensive adhesions and bulky tumor size. Addition of a hand port or mini-laparotomy was planned in 3 cases and added at the time of surgery in an additional 6 cases. There were 6 patients with postoperative complication of significance. There was no 30-day mortality.

CONCLUSION – Junior colorectal surgeons can perform total Robotic Colorectal Resection with comparable efficiency to published data. This is especially relevant in light of our total robotic experience in contrast to other reported “hybrid” techniques. Although more extensive data are required, our experience shows that a junior surgeon may not encounter a steep learning curve in adopting robotics. Our times compare favorably to previously published data and our lymph node retrieval within resected specimens is appropriate. Earlier exposure to robotics during training and early assistance from experienced senior surgeons may be the key to this success.

128

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket
  • Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon
  • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky

Related


sages_adbutler_leaderboard

Hours & Info

11300 West Olympic Blvd, Suite 600
Los Angeles, CA 90064

1-310-437-0544

[email protected]

Monday – Friday
8am to 5pm Pacific Time

Find Us Around the Web!

  • Bluesky
  • X
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2025 · SAGES · All Rights Reserved

Important Links

Healthy Sooner: Patient Information

SAGES Guidelines, Statements, & Standards of Practice

SAGES Manuals