Introduction to the course

View the introductory video clip

This handbook has been designed and written for participants on the Basic Surgical Skills courses, for use before, during and after attendance on a course. From August 1996 it has been a mandatory requirement of the four surgical royal colleges that all SHOs entering basic surgical training should successfully complete such a course. This course has been designed to introduce surgical trainees to safe surgical practice within a controlled workshop environment and it aims to 'teach, assess and certify' trainees' ability to use safe and sound surgical techniques that are common to all forms of surgery.

The course covers three main areas:

open surgery;
trauma and orthopaedics; and
minimal access surgery.

It is not intended to provide comprehensive coverage of all aspects of surgery, but is designed to introduce surgical trainees to safe and sound techniques early in their career. The course is standardised with common objectives, content, structure and assessment methods as agreed by all four surgical colleges. It does not seek to impose or promote the techniques demonstrated as being the only safe and sound method for performing a surgical procedure but does endeavour to teach 'one safe way' that trainees may utilise. The course is intensively taught, with an emphasis on individual tuition and detailed personal feedback on performance.

Features of the course include:

Hands-on practice throughout the course.
High tutor to participant ratio.
Personal tuition with a maximum of 18 participants per course.
Accompanying course handbook and video containing key points for each procedure.
Performance assessment and feedback to identify areas of strength and weakness.

Each course will be offered under the aegis of one of the surgical royal colleges at a network of regional centres, so trainees should not need to travel too far from their hospitals. It is an intercollegiate course with a common content and structure and standardised in-course assessment, meaning that all trainees will have a common learning experience, regardless of location.

The materials which accompany the course carry the copyright of The Royal College of Surgeons of England but have been produced with the help of representatives of all four surgical colleges and are available by prior agreement between the colleges for use on all courses. This reflects the high level of co-operation between the colleges in establishing this important initiative and emphasises the intercollegiate commitment to achieve a common standard on Basic Surgical Skills courses.

We are particularly grateful to the many members of faculty and the participating trainees in the regions whose comments were invaluable in the development and revision of the course and its accompanying handbook and video.

It is our intention that the courses should not only be instructive and educational, but also enjoyable. I trust that you will enjoy this course and find that it provides you with a firm foundation for your future career in surgery.

WEG Thomas
Blond surgical skills tutor, The Royal College of Surgeons of England

Course objectives

Module one: open surgery

To learn safe operating techniques, gowning and gloving.
To understand that careful and sound aspects of technique are more important than simple manual dexterity or speed.
To understand the importance of universal precautions for safe theatre practice, especially in emergency situations.
To understand the principles of handling tissues and sound anastomotic technique recognising differing requirements for differing sites, e.g. bowel and vascular tissue.

Module two: trauma and orthopaedics

To understand the principles of assessing contaminated soft tissues, wound debridement and primary surgical management including drainage and appropriate closure.
To understand the principles of identifying and managing injury to tendons, including tendon repair, handling of tissues and subsequent management.
To understand the principles of fracture assessment, stabilisation and plaster techniques.

Module three: minimal access surgery

To understand the basic principles governing safe preparation for laparoscopic surgery.
To demonstrate the safe use of the open technique for port insertion (Hassan).
To insert the Verres needle and cannulae safely.
To understand the physiological consequences of pneumoperitoneum.
To understand the use of instruments and imaging systems.
To understand the principles governing the use of the camera.
To demonstrate an ability to manipulate basic laparoscopic instruments.
To understand the principles behind the practical use of diathermy.
To demonstrate an overall understanding of the safety issue for minimal access surgery.

Course programme

BSS course information and DVD updates

For further information on the BSS course please follow the link below to the main Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh website (you will need an internet connection to follow the link):

www.rcsed.ac.uk/content/careers/Educat/course/bss/

For further information, updates and corrections to the BSS DVD, please follow the link below to the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh 'Surgical Skills and Knowledge' website .

www.edu.rcsed.ac.uk/bssdvd/index.htm

To access the main Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh website, please follow the link below:

www.rcsed.ac.uk

Return to the main menu