Robot-Assisted Cystectomy: Getting Started: Prior Experience, Learning Curve, and Initial Patient Selection

Abstract

Getting started in robot-assisted surgery for invasive bladder cancer can be very challenging. Setting oneself up for success is as important as surgical technique. Factors such as patient selection, coordination of critical elements of the robotic team, applying surgical concepts of bladder cancer surgery, and identifying potential obstacles to a short learning curve will be covered within this chapter. The authors will review key elements of the aforementioned allowing surgeons to maximize chances of a successful transition to robotic bladder surgery.

None of our men are ‘experts.’ We have most unfortunately found it necessary to get rid of a man as soon as he thinks himself an expert because no one ever considers himself expert if he really knows his job. A man who knows a job sees so much more to be done than he has done that he is always pressing forward and never gives up an instant of thought to how good and how efficient he is. Thinking always ahead thinking always of trying to do more brings a state of mind in which nothing is impossible. The moment one gets into the ‘expert’ state of mind a great number of things become impossible.

—Henry Ford