Transferability of Technical Skills Across Robotic Surgery Platforms: A Scoping Review

Abstract

As the application of robotic approaches to surgery continues to broaden, new consoles have been introduced to the market. Due to the global utilization of a single platform, previously validated curricula have not been assessed on new robotic systems. Surgery by its nature occurs in a high-stakes environment, potentially exacerbated by non-standardized robotic systems. The aim of this review is to critique the evidence available regarding the transferability of technical skills across robotic platforms. A scoping review utilizing the Medline (Pubmed) and Cochrane Databases was conducted. Full texts were reviewed and appraised. Selected articles were eligible for inclusion if they investigated the ability or implications of the transfer of skill across robotic platforms. Data was extracted, coded inductively, and themes synthesized. NVIVO software was used as an adjunct for this qualitative analysis. Following the removal of duplicates a total of 278 papers were screened according to the eligibility criteria. Fifty full-text articles were reviewed and four met the criterion for inclusion. Novices’ performance across platforms was comparable. Increasing levels of prior robotic experience revealed an improvement in technical performance on a novel robotic platform. Safety metrics appear comparable across systems. Quantifying learning curves across robotic platforms and their implications for the robotic surgeon in training remains to be determined. Future research needs to address the gaps in the literature by clearly defining the extent of technical skills transfer between robotic platforms. These factors will guide the next iteration of surgical training curriculums and regulations for robotic surgery.