The Role of the First Assistant in Robotic Assisted Surgery

In part one of this series (BJPN 14 (1) 36–39) the introduction of the da Vinci robotic system was described (Intuitive Surgical, Inc, Mountain View, CA). This second and final part in the series describes the unique role of the first assistant in robotic assisted surgery. In September 2000, the da Vinci robotic system, the first of its kind to be installed in the UK, was introduced to St Mary's Hospital, London.