The Learning Curve: Integrating Robotic Appendectomy Into Surgical Residency

Robotic-assisted surgery is increasingly used across surgical specialties, although its adoption varies among institutions and remains limited by platform costs, availability, and the training required to achieve proficiency.This narrative review examines the potential role of robotic appendectomy (RA) as an introductory procedure in surgical residency, with particular attention to the learning curve, operative efficiency, safety, and educational feasibility in emergency general surgery.Appendectomy may provide an opportunity for junior residents to develop foundational robotic skills, including console navigation, threedimensional visualization, instrument handling, and tissue dissection, before progressing to more complex robotic procedures.Its potential educational value derives from the familiarity of the operation to general surgeons and its comparatively limited procedural scope; however, its suitability as an initial training procedure depends on case selection, appropriate supervision, institutional resources, and the availability of a structured training program.RA should therefore be considered a potential component of surgical education rather than a universally applicable starting point.Further evaluation is needed to determine whether early exposure improves technical proficiency and trainee confidence without compromising patient safety, limiting experience in conventional laparoscopic surgery, or imposing unjustified costs.