Clinical Skills in Emergency Surgery

This course is suitable for CT1-2, ST3, junior SAS and trust grades who have completed foundation training. We strongly recommend that you complete the Intercollegiate Basic Surgical Skills course before attending Clinical Skills in Emergency Surgery.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• demonstrate sound practice in bowel anastomosis using a variety of techniques;
• perform a difficult access sutured anastomosis;
• create a loop colostomy with bridge, discussing incision and possible complications;
• carry out a side-to-side, transverse stapled anastomosis;
• perform emergency arterial closure and vein patching, in the context of haemorrhage control;
• discuss the safe use of energy sources;
• carry out a laparoscopic appendicectomy and safe handling of the bowel;
• practice the low approach for the repair of a femoral hernia.

This course is taught through a series of discussions, demonstrations and practical exercises on animal tissue.

You will work closely with experienced faculty members, who will continuously share formative feedback. There is an informal test of your knotting skills at the beginning of the course, and a formative assessment of your tissue handling and suturing skills at the end of day two. These tests place emphasis on self-reflection and identifying your own strengths and areas for improvement.

Before the course, you will be given access to online activities, including videos and reading texts, to help you prepare. You will also be asked to revise knotting skills at home in order to ensure you get the most out of every day of the course.