title: Novel telementoring system for robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: impact on the learning curve.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a Web-based audiovisual telementoring system for robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and to assess the utility of this system.
  
  
  METHODS
  A telementoring system for RARP, consisting of a 3-dimensional high-definition view of the operating field, overview of the operating room, annotation function, and 2-channel audio feed with bidirectional connectivity between 2 institutions, was developed. The outcome of RARP performed for the initial 30 patients by 2 surgeons with telementoring was compared with that for 2 surgeons who received direct mentoring.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This system was shown to function properly with an acceptable latency. There were no significant differences in several parameters reflecting surgical outcomes, including the operating time, complication rate, early continence status, and positive margin rate between the telementoring and direct mentoring groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest the usefulness of the telementoring system for promoting the spread of precise surgical techniques associated with RARP. To our knowledge, this is the first report concerning telementoring for robot-assisted surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan. Electronic address: hntnbyk@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hinata
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyake
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Seirei Mikatahara General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshifumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kurahashi
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Seirei Mikatahara General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
authors.forename: Junya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Furukawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazushi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujisawa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020375:Education, Distance; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D059032:Learning Curve; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods*; D012371:Robotics / Q000193:education*