Dual-console robotic systems represent a paradigm shift in surgical education, allowing real-time shared control and instructor intervention. Although increasingly adopted, their impact across specialties, educational effectiveness, and implementation barriers are not fully established. To perform a systematic review to provide a comprehensive overview of dual – console training in robotic surgery by synthesizing available evidence regarding training outcomes, implementation strategies, educational effectiveness, and the broader impact of dual – console systems on surgical education and surgical performance. A systematic search was performed as per PRISMA guidelines. Descriptive statistics were recorded and analysed using SPSS v26.0. Overall, 12 studies including 1,267 participants were included. These included residents from gynecology, urology, colorectal surgery, general surgery, and hepatopancreatobiliary surgery. Dual consoles consistently increased trainee operative exposure, autonomy scores, and skill acquisition, with improvements in suturing times and procedural step completion. Safety outcomes were preserved or improved, however operative efficiency varied with some studies demonstrating reduced operative times, while others reported neutral or slightly prolonged procedures due to greater trainee participation. Trainee and instructor satisfaction was uniformly high, citing improved communication, confidence, and educational quality. Implementation barriers included cost, curriculum integration, and faculty development needs. Dual-console systems significantly enhance robotic surgical training by improving technical skill acquisition, trainee engagement, and perceived educational quality, while maintaining patient safety. Operative efficiency outcomes are variable and context-dependent. Despite clear educational advantages, widespread adoption is limited by financial and curricular barriers. Future efforts should focus upon the integration of dual-console training into surgical training curricula.
Rahul et al. (Fri,) studied this question.