title: Application of a laser-guided docking system in robot-assisted urologic surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This work explores the clinical significance of a laser-guided docking system for robot-assisted urologic surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between July 2013 and June 2014, 40 patients underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP), and 32 patients underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (RAPN) performed by a single surgeon. In the RALP and RAPN groups, the robot was docked in the traditional way in 20 and 16 cases, respectively. A laser guiding system was used in the other cases. The docking time and the time required to adjust the angles were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The docking time was significantly shorter for the laser-guided process performed by inexperienced nurses. The time required to adjust the angles was also lower. There were no significant differences between the processes performed by experienced nurses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A laser-guided docking system may simplify and standardize the docking process and shorten the learning curve. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
authors.forename: Hui-Qing
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
authors.forename: Ying-Hao
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D007834:Lasers; D059032:Learning Curve; D008297:Male; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: da Vinci; docking; partial nephrectomy; radical prostatectomy; robotic surgery