Robotic Training Programme

Robotic-assisted surgery is increasingly being used in both benign and malignant colorectal conditions, however, there is a lack of a standardized training approach supported by scientific societies in Europe, including surgeon/unit selection criteria, components of training, assessment and audit data. 

As part of the European School of Coloproctology (ESC) within the European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP), the Colorectal Robotic Surgery Working Group (CRS WG) was set up with the aim to benchmark training in robotic colorectal surgery and to optimize patients’ outcomes. 

The working group includes expert robotic colorectal surgeons with educational interests, surgeons with strong interests in enhanced learning and assessment, anatomist specialising in applied anatomy, visual communicators to support the module development, IT specialists with specific interests in learning management systems and innovation in learning and a team to support administrative and research tasks. As a result of the working group, ESCP has developed a colorectal robotic training programme with the support of an education grant.

Entry onto the programme will be via a competitive selection process. Please see the eligibility criteria below. Following selection and successful entry onto the programme the surgeon will have access to our online learning platform, Colorobotica, where there will be access to e-learning modules and assessments. Following simulation training there will be the opportunity to attend colorectal robotic surgery workshops and observe colorectal robotic surgery with experienced robotic surgical proctors. The surgeon will be supported in training in colorectal robotic surgery at their institution by experienced proctors and there will be assessments at each step of the programme to enhance learning and ensure the acquisition of skills and knowledge required to progress to the next stage. After having passed a successful video assessment as a last step of the training pathway, the surgeon will complete the programme and sign off.

Here is a brief video overview of our training pathway: 

The programme is limited to colleagues from geographical Europe with regular access to a robotic platform at their institutions and completed basic technology training. For details, please check the eligibility criteria. For the successful applicant, there is a non-refundable nominal fee of €500.

Eligibility Criteria for this Training Programme:

1. The applicant will have a relevant volume of colorectal practice (being more than 30 colorectal resections each year (including both benign and malignant) in the preceding three years prior to the application for the Training Programme).
2. The applicant will have achieved good clinical outcomes in evaluations as per standard practice (a summary of audit data) for at least twelve months prior to the application for the Training Programme.
3. The applicant will have access to at least one robotic platform at their institution during the course of the Training Programme.
4. The applicant will have access to at least one robotic surgery simulation system during the course of the Training Programme.
5. The applicant will have continuing access to a robotic platform at their institution following completion of the Training Programme.
6. The applicant will engage in regular clinical audits in line with regional (country) practice prior to, during and after the Training Programme.
7. The applicant will be highly motivated to spend the necessary time and effort required to pass each training step in the recommended timeframe, provide requested data (such as patient outcomes etc.) and undertake the necessary steps to obtain permissions (such as data transfer, ethical approval etc.) as required.
8. The applicant will be supported by their institution with regards to all of the needs of the training programme.
9. The applicant must complete the basic technology training as console surgeon for the robotic platform (e.g. TR100, TR200 for da Vinci robot), which is a pre-requesite before entering our training programme.