Core Skills in Laparoscopic Surgery

This course is suitable for: CT1-2 and ST3-4 and SAS grades.

SCPs may attend the Core Lap course to contribute to the syllabus requirements for theoretical knowledge and clinical/technical skills in relation to general surgery.

After attending this course, you should be able to:

• identify techniques for access and closure;
• demonstrate a range of suturing and knot-tying techniques;
• perform key laparoscopic surgery procedures with improved hand–eye coordination, depth perception and surgical precision;
• demonstrate knowledge of common laparoscopic procedures, including peptic ulcer repair, appendicectomy and cholecystectomy;
• assess and anticipate a range of complications and demonstrate how to deal with them.

Before the course you are strongly advised to:

Complete the e-learning content achieving a passing grade of 75% in each session.

Watch the course videos.

During the 2-day course you will:

Take part in practical skill exercises with continuous assessment and an Observed Structured Assessment of Technical Skill (OSATS) on the second day.

Day 1

After registration, you will be introduced to basic principles in laparoscopic practice, including grasping and cutting. The day progresses with dissection and clipping, Roeder knot-tying, and intracorporeal suturing. A discussion and feedback session closes the day. 

Day 2

The day starts with a simulated closure of a perforated ulcer. This is followed by simulated appendicectomy and cholecystectomy exercises. After lunch, the afternoon session opens with an OSATS-type assessment of needle handling and suturing skills. Participants will then have the opportunity to further practice their laparoscopic suturing skills on a banana skin model. This is followed by a final discussion and feedback on the course. 

Feedback

As it is essential to foster good habits and techniques at any stage of your career, there is continuous feedback from experienced faculty members over both days of the course. The aim is to enable you to reflect on your strengths and areas for development, so that you can understand how to build upon them. 
The faculty are there to help you learn these techniques and are happy to discuss any questions or concerns you may have about your performance. They can also provide guidance regarding remedial action and are there to support your progress. The more you prepare before the course, the more beneficial you will find the practical sessions and the more you will get out of it. The OSATS provides an objective measurement of a range of the skills you have learned throughout the course. 

Post-course practice - LapPass®

The course is not designed to be a one-off exercise. We encourage all participants to maintain and nurture the skills they have acquired during this course, and to use these skills to obtain the LapPass® certificate offered by the Association of Laparoscopic Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland (ALSGBI). 
You can read more about LapPass® on the ALSGBI website.