Feasibility of initiating robotic surgery during the early stages of gastrointestinal surgery education.

Purpose: Minimally invasive surgery for gastrointestinal cancers is rapidly advancing; therefore, surgical education must be changed. This study aimed to examine the feasibility of early initiation of robotic surgery education for surgical residents.

Methods: The ability of staff physicians and residents to handle robotic surgical instruments was assessed using the da Vinci skills simulator (DVSS).