Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Telementoring: A Multi-institutional Experience with the Introduction of a Novel Surgical Approach for Adrenalectomy

  • Endocrine Tumors
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Telementoring is a video-conferencing tool which can deliver expert opinion to physicians and their patients in remote locations. We report our experience with the use of telementoring as a technique to instruct in the performance of posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy (PRA). Issues regarding utility, regulation, and future directions of telementoring are addressed.

Methods

Two consecutive PRAs conducted at Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut, with telementored guidance from MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, are presented. Practical points in implementing cross-institutional telementoring are presented. A review of the current literature was done to discuss medicolegal issues, regulations and a proposal for future implementation of this technique.

Results

The PRAs were performed after careful preparation of appropriate issues regarding cross-institutional telementoring. The procedures were performed quickly and safely. Loss of transmission occurred once, but was reestablished within seconds and was not disruptive to the surgical procedure. Patients were discharged within 48 hours and without complications. In our experience, telementoring was convenient and effective in helping with the execution of a new surgical technique.

Conclusions

Telementoring is a technical application with utility in remotely helping and guiding another surgeon through the execution of a novel surgical approach. The cyberspace consultation is safe and enhances patient care through a real-time collaborative approach which extends beyond the confines of one institution and one surgeon. Aspects concerning improvement in both implementation and regulation of telementoring mandate further research and creation of nationwide guidelines.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Rosser JC Jr, Gabriel N, Herman B, Murayama M. Telementoring and teleproctoring. World J Surg. 2001;25:1438–48.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Bruschi M, Micali S, Porpiglia F, et al. Laparoscopic telementored adrenalectomy: the Italian experience. Surg Endosc. 2005;19:836–40.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Perrier ND, Kennamer DL, Bao R, et al. Posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy: preferred technique for removal of benign tumors and isolated metastases. Ann Surg. 2008;248:666–74.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Schulam PG, Docimo SG, Saleh W, et al. Telesurgical mentoring. Initial clinical experience. Surg Endosc. 1997;11:1001–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Sebajang H, Trudeau P, Dougall A, et al. The role of telementoring and telerobotic assistance in the provision of laparoscopic colorectal surgery in rural areas. Surg Endosc. 2006;20:1389–93.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Ranshaw B, Tucker J, Duncan T, et al. Laparoscopic herniorrhaphy: a review of 900 cases. Surg Endosc. 1996;10:255.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Rosser JC, Wood M, Payne JH, et al. Telementoring. A practical option in surgical training. Surg Endosc. 1997;11:852–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Walz MK, Alesina PF, Wenger FA, et al. Posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy—results of 560 procedures in 520 patients. Surgery. 2006;140:943–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Miller J, Kwon D, Dkeidek A, et al. Safe introduction of a new surgical technique: remote telementoring for posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy. ANZ J Surg. 2012;82:813–6.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Gritzalis S, Iliadis J, Gritzalis D. Developing secure Web-based medical applications. Med Inform Internet Med. 1999;24:75–90.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Berber E, Tellioglu G, Harvey A, et al. Comparison of laparoscopic transabdominal lateral versus posterior retroperitoneal adrenalectomy. Surgery. 2009;146:621–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. http://www.polycom.com/products-services.html.

  13. Grigsby J, Sanders JH. Telemedicine: where it is and where it’s going. Ann Intern Med. 1998;129:123–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Rosser JC Jr, Young SM, Klonsky J. Telementoring: an application whose time has come. Surg Endosc. 2007;21:1458–63.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine and Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, USA

    Sarah Treter MD

  2. Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Nancy Perrier MD

  3. Section of Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA

    Julie Ann Sosa MD & Sanziana Roman MD

Authors
  1. Sarah Treter MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nancy Perrier MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Julie Ann Sosa MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sanziana Roman MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sanziana Roman MD.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Treter, S., Perrier, N., Sosa, J.A. et al. Telementoring: A Multi-institutional Experience with the Introduction of a Novel Surgical Approach for Adrenalectomy. Ann Surg Oncol 20, 2754–2758 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-013-2894-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-013-2894-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation