Operative Surgical Skills & OSCE
This programme covers instruction in all aspects of basic surgical technical skills using a combination of synthetic bench models, animal cadaver tissue and various technical simulators. The 1-day classes take typically take place in the Wet Lab of the National Surgical and Clinical Skills Centre at No 26 York St and full technical support is supplied. However, we have introduced several regional options located in Cork and Galway, which are indicated on the course dates.
A major focus of our training delivery is directed at our Core Surgical Trainees (CSTs). Trainees come to the NSTC to complete 2 – 3 modules per year.
Faculty attend in a ratio of four faculty to approximately twenty trainees. Classes are very hands on, maximising practical sessions with the minimum of didactic content.
Our technical skills programme for CST years 1 and 2 is modular and each module is repeated 5-7 times to accommodate the entire group of trainees in each year.
In addition, we have formal technical skills assessments in April/May of CST 1 and in January/February of CST 2. These assessments, which are combined with the Human Factors, are “high stake” assessments and the scores form a significant part of the selection matrix for progress to ST3.
Module Overview for Year 1 of Core Surgical Training Operative Surgical Skills (OSS)
CST 1 Module 1 – Basic Skills Revision: Suturing / Lesions / Basic skills revision: Suturing and knot tying; Temporal artery and muscle biopsy; Excision of cutaneous and subcutaneous lesions. Technical skills and case discussion.
CST 1 Module 2 – Laparotomy / Laparoscopy Skills / Laparotomy open and closure; Basic laparoscopic skills revision; Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Technical skills and case discussion
CST 1 Module 3 – Management of Common Surgical Conditions / Open appendicectomy; IGTN; Hernia; Bowel anastomosis; Technical skills and case discussion
Module Overview for Year 2 of Core Surgical Training Operative Surgical Skills (OSS)
CST 2, Module 1 – Vascular / Vascular surgery: Small vessel dissection and ligation. Vascular anastomosis. vascular anastomosis. Revision of suturing and wound management. Technical skills and case discussion.
CST 2, Module 2 – Urology and Trauma / Acute urological conditions, including trauma. Chest and abdominal Trauma.
Technical skills and case discussion.