Advanced Robotic Colorectal and Abdominal Wall Surgery

This vocational master aims to provide students with highly specialised training in the use of robotic platforms in surgery. Notably, participants will acquire advanced technical skills essential for the effective use of robotic technology. The programme will focus on topics like the operating room setup, proper patient positioning, trocar layout, docking of the robotic system, and insertion and removal of surgical instruments, with a detailed overview of both basic and advanced instruments. The programme will also illustrate the main components of robotic surgical systems, providing a comparative analysis of the ones which are currently in use. Participants will learn the fundamental principles of console surgeon training and bedside assistant training, as well as integrated surgical team training. A significant part of the programme will be dedicated to the application of minimally invasive robotic techniques for the treatment of oncologic and benign conditions of the lower digestive tract, with an evaluation of short- and long-term postoperative outcomes, focusing particularly on oncologic and functional outcomes. Surgical procedures that will be covered during the programme include: right and left hemicolectomy; segmental resection of the left colic angle and transverse colon; low and ultra-low anterior rectal resection; intersphincteric resection; abdominoperineal resection; sigmoidectomy for diverticular disease; subtotal and total colectomy; total proctocolectomy. Space will be given to clinical case discussions. Further attention will be paid to the use of robotic surgery for primary and incisional hernia repair. Different surgical approaches will be analysed, such as: transabdominal or extraperitoneal (eTEP); retromuscular or preperitoneal; advanced repair techniques, including Rives technique and posterior component separation for complex incisional hernias. The programme will also address preoperative planning with imaging studies, access strategies (lateral, top-down, bottom-up), and management of recurrent hernias and complex incisional hernias. Space will be given to clinical case discussions. Lastly, the programme will illustrate the principles of troubleshooting for solving technical issues in robotic surgery, management of intraoperative complications, and the development of clinical research with a view to elevating standards in robotic digestive surgery.

The tuition fee for participants will be euro 3516,00, including the insurance costs.