Can community surgeons perform laparoscopic colorectal surgery with outcomes similar to tertiary care centres?

Introduction: The use of the laparoscopic approach in colorectal surgery (LCS) is the subject of active debate. Studies demonstrating its safety and feasibility in tertiary care centres are now available. The aim of this study was to examine the results of LCS performed in a community hospital setting.

The role of telementoring and telerobotic assistance in the provision of laparoscopic colorectal surgery in rural areas.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess whether telementoring and telerobotic assistance would improve the range and quality of laparoscopic colorectal surgery being performed by community surgeons.

Methods: We present a series of 18 patients who underwent telementored or telerobotically assisted laparoscopic colorectal surgery in two community hospitals between December 2002 and December 2003. Four community surgeons with no formal advanced laparoscopic fellowship were remotely mentored and assisted by an expert surgeon from a tertiary care center.

Telementoring: an important enabling tool for the community surgeon.

This study evaluated the efficacy of telementoring as an enabling tool for community general surgeons to perform advanced laparoscopic surgical procedures. We present a series of 19 patients who underwent advanced laparoscopic surgical procedures in two community hospitals, between November 2002 and July 2003, by four community surgeons with no formal advanced laparoscopic training. Each surgeon was telementored by an expert surgeon from a tertiary care hospital.