The efficacy of robotic driven handheld instruments for the acquisition of basic laparoscopic suturing skills

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of robotic-driven handheld laparoscopic instruments for the acquisition and improvement of basic laparoscopic suturing skills.

Study design: A prospective study was carried out on 15 physicians grouped by previous experience. They were evaluated on the completion of basic surgical laparoscopic skills. First, they used traditional non-articulating laparoscopic instruments, and later they used robotic-driven articulating instruments.

Results: Significant time reduction was observed in the group of inexperienced physicians when they used robotic-driven instruments for needle loading and placing stitches. An 8.3% time reduction was observed in the same group when considering total times for the completion of all exercises. No significant differences for the experienced groups were found.

Conclusions: Robotic-driven handheld instruments could help inexperienced physicians acquire basic skills in laparoscopic techniques. No benefit has been observed when previous laparoscopic experience is present.