Robotic cardiac surgery training during residency: Preparing residents for the inevitable future

Abstract

Unlike other surgical residency training programs including thoracic surgery, robotic cardiac surgery skill training is minimal or absent in residency curricula. A review was conducted to identify residents' exposure to robotic cardiac surgery training based on databases including PubMed, MEDLINE and Google Scholar. Published papers and cardiothoracic surgical societies with robotic cardiac surgery training courses were reviewed. Robotic cardiac surgery training for residents is almost non-existent. Strategies to establish proper robotic cardiac surgical training for residents include implementing simulation training, implementing hour requirements and establishing wet/dry lab model training in a progressive fashion. As robot-assisted cardiac surgery becomes increasingly commonplace, it will be imperative to provide training for residents with dedicated opportunities to develop their skills in robotic cardiac surgery.