Also this year the International Academy of Mini-Invasive Surgical training (IAMS) has organized the 6th edition of the “UROLOGICAL ADVANCED COURSE (UAC) ON LAPAROSCOPIC CADAVER LAB” .
Over the past 2 years more than 60 European trainees took part in the course at the anatomy department of the University of Malta, specially expert in the advanced preparation of the bodies following the Thiel’s soft-fix embalming method (1), perfect way to preserve corps with natural colors offering well preserved organs and tissues, with natural color, consistency, flexibility, plasticity and transparency.
The Thiel mothod is a fundamental requirement to perform laparoscopy on cadaver and consists in the application of an intravascular injection formula, and submersion for a determinate period of time in a stainless steel tank in a special solution that lacks of toxic or irritating gases due to minimum formaldehyde concentrations.
The 2 days course is specially designed for a maximum of 10 experienced urologists who want to improve their laparoscopic skills on a realistic model.
The course starts with a 6-hour face-to-face interactive lectures on the embalming technique, the preparation of the corpses, pelvic and retroperitoneal anatomy, patient positioning, followed by a step-by-step modular videos on pelvic and kidney surgery. The hands-on start early in the 2nd days. The resident faculty included 3 expert mini-invasive surgeons allowing practicing simultaneously on 3 cadavers for a total comprehensive time of 24 hours. Two modules of 4h each one is focused on laparoscopic radical prostatectomy , 4 modules of 2h on laparoscopic partial nephrectomy and 4 modules of 2h laparoscopic nephrectomy.
The aim of the IAMS was to maintain small groups for each procedure, favoring a modular rotation regulated by the tutor, to teach not only surgical techque but also non-technical skills and encouraging team-building, a fundamental requirement in the operating room and in real life.
IAMS has always embraced the concept that the surgical training is very delicate and for ethical reasons cannot be performed directly on the patient, but requires a structured modular training first on dry lab, then on animal models. The cadaveric model bridges the gap between simulation and live surgery able to faster learning curve in complete safety for the patient
Delighted to organize this fantastic course, IAMS is already at work for a brand new meeting which will held in October 2018, again in collaboration with ESUT and EAU.
Future perspective of IAMS is to make the training even more realistic by mimicking a real surgical environment through a live cadaver model and the anatomy department of the University of Malta is already at work to provide a cadaver perfusion system. The model will combine the realistic conditions of the living body with the real human anatomy in one model, and is the only training model available that provides such a combination.
Thiel, W. Die Konservierung ganzer Leichen in natürlichen Farben. Ann. Anat., 174:185-95, 1992.