Posts Tagged ‘Laparoscopic’

Laparoscopy for Gynecologists: LIGO course review

Posted: September 18, 2012 in Gynecology, Health, Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
2

I just returned from the LIGO (Laparoscopic Institute of Gnecologic Oncology) Matsers’ Course in Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy & Advanced Laparoscopic Procedures in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

In a nutshell, this conference is a must-attend for any gynecologist who would like to develop or advance their surgical skills in laparoscopic hysterectomies.

I highly recommend it.

I attended LIGO conference in San Francisco last year. This year I got invited to join LIGO team as faculty to help teach laparoscopic suturing on pelvic trainers.

I was happy to accept the offer as I knew the value of such an educational course and its impact on womyn’s health by training more gynecologists to become comfortable and competent in minimally invasive surgery.

I wanted to support it.

The conference spans two days (Friday & Saturday) and offers laparoscopic surgical training that is condensed, comprehensive, high-yield and hands-on using state-of-the-art techniques and equipment. I find this very convenient as one would only need to take Friday off to attend. The condensed material is made easier to absorb by a constantly changing educational format. LIGO has a good balance between lectures, video demonstrations, “lunch with an expert” and hands-on training.

The Holiotomy™ Challenge:

The “Holiotomy™” is a two inch segment of Penrose drain with six dots on each side of the tubing with a one inch hole in the middle. Surgeons are challenged to place three figure of “N”s through each of the dots and to tie each of these with four square knots to close the hole. We call this a “holiotomy™”, in jest, but the process of suturing the “holiotomy™” enhances eye-hand coordination and haptic perception and simulates the essential procedures every laparoscopic surgeon needs: closure of cystotomy or enterotomy or closure of the vagina after total laparoscopic hysterectomy.

Surgeons are asked to perform three “holiotomies™” (6 figure of “N”‘s with 24 knots on two “holiotomies&™” and one “run the cuff” advanced on the third “holiotomy™”) as evidence of their developing laparoscopic skills. This challenge is made easy by the three lectures on suture techniques, the two precepted suture sessions and the 40 pelvic trainers available to you during unrestricted breaks.

Continuing Medical Education Credit (CME) is provided through joint sponsorship with The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). ACOG designates

LIGO for a maximum of 17 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. LIGO offers concentrated learning experience with a high faculty to attendee ratio, individually precepted simulator training and optional cadaver lab (spring course only). It is rated 4.92 (of 5.0) by over 1,250 surgeons trained since it started in 2006 according to their official website.

I have never been in a conference that feeds you that well. Food is served almost constantly throughout the day and is generally healthy (with some unhealthy but refreshing snacks from ice cream, popcorn to freshly made pretzels and the now famous LIGOtini).

A special martini that carried the name and colors of the course. It has Vodka, Orange juice, and Sambuca.

This year, the conference attracted 118 attendees from 7 countries (Canada, Colombia, Bermuda, Turkey, Kuwait, UAE & USA) and 33 American states. In addition to surgeons there were surgical assistants and residents.

Having this number of attendees allows for ample one-on-one time with a faculty member at a pelvic trainer. This hands-on experience makes this course stands out among other similar courses offered across North America.

Follow LIGO on Twitter @LapInstGynOnc
Like LIGO’s Facebook page
The course is given twice a year. To register, go to http://ligocourses.com

;

The course offers a discount if you get referred to it. So consider I referred you, use referral code: SF2013 when you register and get 100 USD off.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Disclaimer: I do not receive any financial support from the conference, its faculty or display companies in it. I have no conflict of interest or other financial disclosures to be reported. I have volunteered my time with LIGO as a faculty

Advance your laparoscopic hysterectomy skills

Posted: February 8, 2012 in Health
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
4

This post was edited on Feb 13th, 2012. See footnote note in red.

Are you looking to advance your surgical skills in Gynecological laparoscopy?

Medicine is evolving at a fast pace. It is important to stay up to date and to offer our patients the most advanced and least invasive options available.

Hysterectomy is the second most common surgery performed on womyn in USA and Canada, Cesarean delivery being the first. There are different routes to performing a hysterectomy: Laparoscopic (LH), Vaginal (VH), and Abdominal (AH) among others.

Here is a comparison from The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Committee Opinion #444, November 2009:

Here is The American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL) position statement in 2010:

It is the position of the AAGL that most hysterectomies for benign disease should be performed either vaginally or laparoscopically and that continued efforts should be taken to facilitate these approaches. Surgeons without the requisite training and skills required for the safe performance of vaginal or laparoscopic hysterectomies should enlist the aid of colleagues who do or should refer patients requiring hysterectomy to such individuals for their surgical care.

In other words: VH should always be your first choice. When VH is not feasible, the patient should be offered LH. A surgeon should make every effort to avoid AH by either improving her/his laparoscopic skills or referring the patient.

Surgeon’s experience should no longer be a factor that influences route of hysterectomy unless referral of the patient, or access to a training course is not a viable option.

There are plenty of advanced surgical courses that are scheduled annually. in 2010, I attended Harvard’s Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery conference in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. In 2011, I attended the Laparoscopic Institute for Gynecologic Oncology LIGO’s 
Surgical Masters’ Course in Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy in 
San Francisco, California, USA.

Hasan Abdessamad, MD, FRCSC, FACOG at LIGO Masters’ Course in San Francisco, Sept. 2011

In comparison, the LIGO course provides a larger opportunity for hands-on training with multiple simulated laparoscopy stations and one-on-one guidance from a mentor.

I enjoyed the intense nature of the course. Day 1 starts at 7 AM and adjourns at 9 PM. Day 2 starts at 7 AM and adjourn that 5PM. This provides ample time to explore the beautiful city of San Francisco.

Another success point for the course is that it is “newbie-friendly”. Even though the course teaches advanced skills, the training is usually tailored to your level of expertise. If you have not trained to do Laparoscopic hysterectomies the course will prepare you to start performing them.

It was pleasant to meet Dr. O’Hanlan and her partner Leoni Walker. I learned about Dr. O’Hanlan as an authority on lesbian health issues. I read her studies/articles during my literature review for my lesbian health research. It is impressive that she is an authority in two different medical fields.

Besides all the education, the course was fun. The Heliotomy Challenge was a laparoscopic suturing contest in a very laid back atmosphere. It was the perfect way to conclude the course. With alcohol being served, the contest turned into a nice evening to unwind among pleasant people, and spending the last hours of the course laughing and cheering for contestants.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

You might be interested in reading a similar post: Bigger surgeries. Smaller incisions! Oct. 26th 2010

P.S. This blog post was transcribed by Siri after I broke my arm, and recently edited for posting.

Footnote (Added Feb 13th 2012): This blog post was dictated and transcribed shortly after the LIGO course I attended in Sept. 2011. I recently edited and posted it before I receive an official invitation from the Laparoscopic Institute of Gynecologic Oncology to join them in Atlanta as a LIGO preceptor. After the invitation no content was changed in the above post besides removing the following phrase “Always in San Francisco” as indicated above.