Robotic Surgery in Thoracic Training Programs: A National Needs Assessment

Background: Cardiothoracic surgical trainees perceive a need for more instruction and exposure to robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery during their training. We sought to assess use and trainee exposure to robotic surgery in thoracic residency programs to identify areas for improvement.

Methods: A voluntary electronic survey of 10 questions was distributed to surgeons working in all thoracic surgery residency programs in the United States. The survey asked respondents to provide the size of the residency, the availability and use of robots, and the trainee's adoption of robotic surgery in their practice after graduation. Multivariable logistic regression was performed.

Results: Of a total of 76 cardiothoracic surgery training programs, surgeons from 69 training programs (90.8%) completed the survey. Most pulmonary lobectomy was performed using robotic surgery (55%). Approximately half of the training programs (35 of 69) have a formal robotic curriculum for the residents. Of 121 thoracic track trainees, 118 (97.5%) performed robotic surgery as part of their practice, whereas 62 of 110 (56.4%) cardiothoracic track and 16 of 158 (10.1%) cardiac track trainees performed robotic surgery. In a multivariate analysis, the adoption of robotic surgery was associated with having an established robotic training curriculum (odds ratio, 5.82; 95% CI, 1.32-35.7) and a larger training program (odds ratio, 3.78; 95% CI, 1.34-10.6).

Conclusions: A disparity exists in robotic surgical training among the training programs. A standardized curriculum and formal case requirements may be needed to ensure optimal preparation for future graduates.