title: Survey on Robot-Assisted Surgical Techniques Utilization in US Pediatric Surgery Fellowships.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Robotic technology has transformed both practice and education in many adult surgical specialties; no standardized training guidelines in pediatric surgery currently exist. The purpose of our study was to assess the prevalence of robotic procedures and extent of robotic surgery education in US pediatric surgery fellowships.
  
  
  METHODS
  A deidentified survey measured utilization of the robot, perception on the utility of the robot, and its incorporation in training among the program directors of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) pediatric surgery fellowships in the United States.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-one of the 47 fellowship programs (87%) responded to the survey. While 67% of respondents indicated the presence of a robot in their facility, only 26% reported its utilizing in their surgical practice. Among programs not utilizing the robot, most common reasons provided were lack of clear supportive evidence, increased intraoperative time, and incompatibility of instrument size to pediatric patients. While 58% of program directors believe that there is a future role for robotic surgery in children, only 18% indicated that robotic training should play a part in pediatric surgery education. Consequently, while over 66% of survey respondents received training in robot-assisted surgical technique, only 29% of fellows receive robot-assisted training during their fellowship.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A majority of fellowships have access to a robot, but few utilize the technology in their current practice or as part of training. Further investigation is required into both the technology's potential benefits in the pediatric population and its role in pediatric surgery training.
authors: 1 Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama.
authors: Ilan I
authors: II
authors: Maizlin
authors: 1 Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama.
authors: Michelle C
authors: MC
authors: Shroyer
authors: 2 Department of Surgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center , New Orleans, Louisiana.
authors: David C
authors: DC
authors: Yu
authors: 1 Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama.
authors: Colin A
authors: CA
authors: Martin
authors: 1 Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama.
authors: Mike K
authors: MK
authors: Chen
authors: 1 Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama.
authors: Robert T
authors: RT
authors: Russell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D010820:Physicians; D015995:Prevalence; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013043:Specialties, Surgical / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
keywords: minimally invasive techniques; pediatric surgery; robot; robotic surgery; surgical education