Basic Surgical Skills

This is the sixth edition of the Intercollegiate course, spanning two days, designed for trainees preparing for a surgical career and gearing up for basic surgical examinations. Junior trainees are expected to master a range of fundamental surgical skills before embarking on specialty surgical training. These proficiencies are evaluated at the MRCS Part B OSCE Examination, where candidates are judged on their Clinical and Procedural Skills. The course focuses on imparting safe operating techniques and emphasises the importance of safety precautions in theatre practice.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, participants should be able to:
•Explain the principles of good practice in theatre etiquette, knot tying, suturing, haemostasis, anastomosis, surgical diathermy, and ergonomics for minimal access surgery.
•Describe the correct handling and use of surgical instruments.
•Demonstrate an appropriate procedure for gowning and gloving in accordance with recommended standards of practice.
•Tie a variety of reliable knots.
•Suture various tissues effectively, including skin, bowel, vascular tissue, and tendons.
•Perform abscess draining and contaminated wound debridement following the basic principles of wound management.
•Execute basic techniques for small bowel, vascular, and tendon anastomosis.
•Demonstrate an understanding of basic diathermic technique.
•Manage ergonomic tissue commonly encountered in minimal access surgery effectively.

Course Structure
Delegates are introduced to the underlying principles of the techniques and practise them under the supervision of examiners. Trainees are continually assessed throughout the course and receive a certificate of completion with 12 CPD points awarded.

Who Should Attend
•Foundation Year Trainees
•Surgical First Assistant Nurses
•Final Year Medical Students
•Surgeons from outside the UK