Introduction:The aim of the study was to assess the robotic colorectal surgery (RCS) learning curve of an experienced surgeon. Methods: A retrospective review of 117 consecutive patients who underwent total RCS at a single institution between October 2018 and July 2021 was performed. Patient demographics, surgery indications, operation type, intraoperative data, histopathology, morbidity and mortality, and length of stay were analysed. Cumulative summation technique (CUSUM) was used to construct a learning curve of surgeon console and total operation times (SCT and TOT). Results:There was no open conversion, positive resection margin and mortality in the study population. There were four Clavien-DIndo grade III complications and one local recurrence. The range for SCT was 18-855 min (mean 214, median 211) and TOT was 68-937 min (mean 302, median 291). The SCT CUSUM graph identified change in slope at cases 44 and 88, which divided the learning curve into three distinct phases. Patient demographics were similar through the three phases. There was proportionally more cancer cases performed in the first phase (P = 0.001). The mean SCT was significantly higher in Phase 2 when compared with Phases 1 and 3 (P = 0.03). The failure rate was similar through the three phases. There was a nonsignificant steady decline in LOS over the three phases, from 6.9 to 6.1 days. Conclusion: Experienced colorectal surgeons can perform robotic surgery safely, even on patients with high complexity early in the learning curve. Audit of patient outcome should be an important component of learning curve assessment.

In the last decade, emergency general surgery (EGS) in Australia and New Zealand has seen a transition from the traditional on‐call system to the acute surgical unit (ASU) model. The importance and growing demand for EGS has resulted in the implementation of the General Surgeons Australia's 12‐point plan for emergency surgery. Since its release, the 12‐point plan has been used as a benchmark of a well‐functioning ASU, both locally and abroad. This study aims to provide a descriptive review on the relevance of the 12‐point plan to the ASU model and review the current evidence to support this framework. The review concludes that the establishment of the ASU model has met the aims set out by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons for EGS. The 12‐point plan is relevant and has good evidence to support its framework.

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