Robotic Instrumentation, Personnel and Operating Room Setup

Robotic-assisted surgery using the da Vinci® Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA) has rapidly expanded in the field of urologic surgery. Although originally reported for use during radical prostatectomy, the last decade has witnessed expansion of its use in both the lower and upper urinary tract. With the rapid growth and expansion of urologic robotic surgery comes the need for proper training of both surgeon and surgical team. This includes a thorough understanding of the various currently available robotic platforms, instrumentation, operating room configuration, robot setup and breakdown processes. In addition, each member’s precise role must be clearly defined including the surgeon, surgical assistant(s), anesthesiologist, scrub technician, and circulating nurse.