Basic Techniques in Surgery

Anaesthesia (IV and tips, central line emergency, airway access); instruments and knots (correct handling of scalpel, scissors, dissecting forceps, needle holder, needles, knots - one-handed and instrument tie); sutures and suturing (needles and sutures, the art of assisting, suturing); principles and hazards of diathermy; bowel anastomosis (sutured anastomosis, all purpose single layer, extramucosal interrupted, continuous suture technique, end to side); GI stapling (cross stapling, side to side, end to end); GI endoscopy (rigid sigmoidoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, upper GI endoscopy, prostoscopy and managment of haemorrhoids); vascular (emergency venous access, saphenous cutdown, vein patch, end to side anastomosis, varicose veins); laparoscopy (patient selection and preparation, consent, safe induction of pneumoperitoneum, safe port management, basic instrumentation, reusable versus disposable, camera set-up and etiquette, grasping and manipulation skills, loop ligation, Roeder knots; orthopaedics (fracture management, principles of reduction and stabilization, plastering techniques, drainage and debridement, sawing and bevelling of bone, specialist suture techniques; urology (male and female catheterization, suprapubic catheterization; medicolegal aspects (consent and negligence, coroner).