Advanced surgical skills for exposure in trauma (ASSET): the first 25 courses

Concept and evaluation of the German War Surgery Course – Einsatzchirurgie-Kurs der Bundeswehr

“…In 2015, the cadaver portion of the course was modified to incorporate the ASSET course. Developed in 2010 by the American College of Surgeons, Committee on Trauma, the ASSET course was designed to teach vascular exposures for traumatically injured patients using a human cadaver model 7. The ASSET course is rigidly standardised, and employs a scenario-based format, augmented by a review of relevant anatomy and brief videos of the proper steps of each exposure.…”

“…The ASSET course is rigidly standardised, and employs a scenario-based format, augmented by a review of relevant anatomy and brief videos of the proper steps of each exposure. Conducted completely in the lab setting, participants are tasked to expose all major vascular structures from the chin to the toes as well as fasciotomies of the extremities, thoracotomies and abdominal exploration relevant to trauma 7. The current WSC teaches the ASSET curriculum over 2 days divided into two, 5-hour sessions with the goal of exposing participants to the most important techniques to access life-threatening injuries of human organs and vascular structures.…”

“…As a result, civilian associations and military commands have developed a variety of training courses to address these gaps in experience and knowledge 6–8. These surgical courses aim to impart either focused skills6 7 or comprehensive approaches of different competencies to perform rare operations efficiently 8 9. The ATLS and Definitive Surgical Trauma Care courses are examples of well-established compact trauma training courses used worldwide in both civilian and military settings 10 11.…”

Current Status of Simulation-Based Training in Graduate Medical Education

“…Trainees completing the course have reported higher levels of selfconfidence and self-efficacy in all body regions. 46,47 Advanced Trauma Operative Management…”

Using an Individual Procedure Score Before and After the Advanced Surgical Skills Exposure for Trauma Course Training to Benchmark a Hemorrhage-Control Performance Metric

“…The course is a human cadaver-based 1-day course developed by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma and adopted by military predeployment training platforms to teach surgeons how to expose and control major blood vessels. Vascular exposure is the requisite first step in achieving control of major hemorrhage 8 and the course reviews all the major vascular exposures in the body. ASSET training includes 59 procedures, and has been shown to increase self-confidence in performing these procedures.…”