Priscila R Armijo, MD1, Dmitry Oleynikov, MD1, Sages Robotic Task Force*2. 1University of Nebraska Medical Center, 2SAGES Robotic Task Force
Introduction: While robotic companies continue to aggressively market and promote the use of robots in general surgery, little is known about how this technology is employed by general surgeons, and what is expected of this technology from both novice and experts in the field. The aim of this study is to evaluate the needs of general surgeons who are new to robotic surgery and the needs of established robotic surgeons.
Methods: The SAGES Robotic Task Force Survey, a one-page survey, was designed and sent electronically to all SAGES members. Questions regarding fellowship training, area of expertise, robotic simulation and in clinical case use, services offered in the current hospital, mentorship, likelihood of switching to a different approach, and expectations for the robot were included in the survey. Two groups were created based on previous use of daVinci® System in a clinical scenario, or not. Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS v.23.0.0, using Fischer’s exact and Pearson’s chi-squared tests where appropriate.
Results: 201 SAGES members answered the Survey. Surprisingly, 157 respondents (78%) had used the daVinci® in a clinical setting. Among these, 122 (78%) had additional fellowship training, compared to 27 (63%) in the non-clinical use group, p=0.048. Of all surgeons with additional fellowship training, the great majority (26%) had specialization in advanced GI, MIS and Bariatric Surgery, followed by Colorectal (10%). Most surgeons are performing less than 10 cases per month using the robotic System, and with the majority of cases performed using the platform being hernia repairs (24%), followed by foregut-related procedures (20%). Interestingly, from all the surgeons who replied the Survey, only 11.3% are planning to switch from open procedures to its robot counterpart, whereas 38.1% are planning to adopt robotic-assisted procedures rather than laparoscopy.
Conclusions: The majority of SAGES members who responded to the survey have used the daVinci® in a clinical setting in the past. Surgeons who stated they perform mainly laparoscopic procedures were likely to continue to adopt robotic techniques, whereas those who perform open hernia repair for example were not very likely to switch to robotic approach. While the use of the robot may be enabling surgeons who used to perform mostly open procedures in the urology or gynecology fields, laparoscopic skills predict robotic utilization in general surgery. Hernia and foregut appear to be the most common procedures that are being utilized.
Presented at the SAGES 2017 Annual Meeting in Houston, TX.
Abstract ID: 87002
Program Number: P818
Presentation Session: iPoster Session (Non CME)
Presentation Type: Poster
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