Sep 5 2014
A record number of U.S. colorectal surgeons received hands-on training using the da Vinci Surgical System at the fourth-annual Colorectal Fellowship Training Program, sponsored by Intuitive Surgical. Intuitive Surgical hosted 88 residents this year, up from nine when the program was first offered in 2011.
The 88 residents trained at one of four centers around the country, including Intuitive Surgical facilities in Sunnyvale, California and Atlanta; Florida Hospital Celebration Health in Celebration, Florida and Memorial Hermann in Houston. The comprehensive program included lectures, given by experienced da Vinci surgeons, on techniques for the surgical management of rectal cancer and colon diseases. Surgeon-led training also included surgical video review and simulated surgery practice. At the conclusion of the program, the residents earned a certificate for completing basic da Vinci Surgical System skills training.
"This course is the perfect opportunity to introduce new specialists in colorectal surgery to technologies designed to enable minimally invasive surgery," said Myriam Curet, M.D., Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer at Intuitive Surgical. "This is good news for patients because minimally invasive surgery is not yet widely used among colorectal specialists. Fewer than half of today's colorectal patients receive a minimally invasive procedure," Curet said.
This is the first year the program was conducted in collaboration with the Association of Program Directors for Colon and Rectal Surgery (APDCRS), which oversees the curriculum. The APDCRS, working in collaboration with the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS), offers the program as part of all colorectal surgery residencies. Colorectal surgery residents have all completed a general surgery residency and spend an additional year of training to develop expertise in treating colorectal diseases.
"Advanced technology training, specifically in minimally invasive surgery, is a significant educational advancement for the next generation of colorectal surgeons," said Charles Whitlow, M.D., President of the Association of Program Directors for Colon and Rectal Surgery and Program Director of the Colon and Rectal Surgery training program at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans. "The level of participation among this year's residents suggests that robotic technology is becoming fundamental to new colorectal surgeons' academic experience," Whitlow added.
Training and experience in robotic-assisted surgery will become increasingly important as hospitals around the country adopt da Vinci technology.
"We have received an outstanding response to the program from participating surgeons," said Robert Cleary, M.D., program Faculty member, Section Head of General Surgery and Head of the Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship Program at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor, Michigan. "It's exciting to now be able to offer advanced technology training in minimally invasive techniques to all new colorectal surgeons," Cleary added.
"This program serves as the leading template for minimally invasive da Vinci training in colorectal surgery. We're committed to offering the course in the years ahead and welcome all new colorectal residents who wish to participate," said Cleary.
Source: http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/