title: Analysis of procedure time in robot-assisted surgery: comparative study in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Robotic surgery systems have been introduced to deal with the basic disadvantages of laparoscopic surgery. However, working with these systems may lead to time loss due to additional robot-specific tasks, such as set-up of equipment and sterile draping of the system. To evaluate loss of time in robot-assisted surgery, we compared 10 robot-assisted cholecystectomies to 10 standard laparoscopic cholecystectomies.
  
  
  METHODS
  The robot-assisted procedures were performed with the da Vinci telemanipulation system. The total time in the operating room (OR) was scored and divided into preoperative, operative, and postoperative phases. These phases were further divided into smaller time-frames to precisely define moments of time loss.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most significant difference between the two groups was found in the preoperative phase. Robot-related tasks led to time loss in all time-frames of this phase. In the operative phase, the trocar entry time-frame was longer in robot-assisted cases than in standard procedures. Additionally, postoperative OR clearing was longer in the robot-assisted cases. Total operating time did not differ significantly between the two procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Robot-assisted surgery leads to time loss during preparation of routine laparoscopic procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jelle P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ruurda
authors.forename: Paul L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.forename: Ivo A M J
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Broeders
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012371:Robotics; D013997:Time Factors; D013996:Time and Motion Studies