Three microsurgical courses in Catania

Abstract

The utilization of microsurgical techniques in the surgical disciplines is now accepted worldwide, and many surgeons should receive the opportunity of learning these techniques. To meet this requirement, microsurgical courses have been organized and comprise both theoretical aspects and, especially, practical demonstrations. A one-week course usually allows attending surgeons to get familiar with magnification and to perform microvascular anastomoses, vasovasostomy, tubal reconstruction, sciatic nerve suture, and end-to-side portacaval shunt, a useful exercise before dealing with rodent organ transplantation. It is important to underline that the skill supplied by these microsurgical courses is not enough to start clinical applications of microsurgery; to this end, training must continue long after the course has been finished.

Correlation between microsurgical course performance and future surgical training selection by intern and junior residents

“…Sun Lee and Antonio have used the basic microsurgical training course for these purposes. [5][6][7] In our basic microsurgical training for interns and junior residents, we find that 39% of the residents and 20% of the interns were graded in as ''good''; only 15% of the residents and 34% of the interns were graded as ''poor.'' Fifty-three percent of the interns who were graded in as ''good'' and 31% of the interns who were graded in as ''fine'' will choose a surgical field for further training in their residency.…”

Experiences with basic microsurgical training programs and skill assessment methods at the University of Debrecen, Hungary

“…On microsurgical education and training numerous papers have been published in the last two decades, which articles mostly focus on the methods helping the effectiveness of the training, providing models and definitive educational programs [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] . Since for the obtainment and practicing safe stitching and suturing techniques, atraumatic tissue preparation, fine and precise movements well-established and well-controlled practical programs are needed.…”

Thiel Embalming Technique: A Valuable Method for Teaching Oral Surgery and Implantology

“…Whereas many surgical skills can be achieved by practicing directly on the patient, there is general agreement about the usefulness of courses for implantological surgery and related operations such as difficult bone augmentations or sinus floor elevations before starting on a clinical case. [3][4][5][6][7][8] With this, various reasons can be given, like the fear of increasing expenses in the case of complications, or the conviction that technically highly demanding procedures only can be taught in specifically organized courses. [4][5][6]9 Moreover, ethical doubts come up when difficult operations have to be studied and exercised in a living patient.…”