Robot improves suture proficiency more rapidly for surgeons inexperienced in laparoscopic ...( CHICAGO (April 20 2009) New researc...),Health

CHICAGO (April 20, 2009) New research published in the April issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons suggests that, among surgeons inexperienced in laparoscopic techniques, closing incisions using robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RALS) requires less time to learn and results in improved outcomes compared with suturing done via traditional, "open" surgery or with freehand laparoscopy.

Laparoscopic suturing a minimally invasive operation in which suturing is performed using an instrument that is inserted through small incisions in the abdomen is a technically demanding skill that traditionally has required a significant amount of time to master. In some cases, proficiency may not be achieved in a reasonable amount of time because of the infrequency of cases that require its use. With RALS, the robot's full range of motion and three-dimensional, enhanced visualization helps surgeons to maneuver complex anatomy and gives them more precision during delicate operations.

"Our findings show that, over a relatively short time, even inexperienced surgeons can perform RALS with efficiency and results comparable to open surgery," said Hiep Nguyen, MD, FAAP, Director of Robotic Surgery and Research, Children's Hospital Boston. "RALS is allowing us to perform suturing more quickly and safely, and we hope that ultimately this will allow for patients to recover faster and with reduced pain."

Researchers evaluated the learning curve associated with a pyeloplasty an operation that removes a blockage at the connection of the kidney with the ureter using an open surgical procedure, freehand laparoscopic surgery and RALS. Using 57 swine models, the operative time was measured for pyeloplasties performed by three non-urologic surgeons who did not have any experience in freehand laparoscopy or RALS and two experienced urologic surgeons, one of whom had no experience in laparoscopic techniques and the other of whom had ver
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