Reviews from previous participants
JA (2017)
The course improved my skills in every aspect
Yes I have performed in obstetric and gynaecology operations what I have learnt.
I am grateful to all professors, with a special mention to Mr Quick.
I would like that you present in May my photos of uterus post caesarean section with a Connell suture. My colleagues really appreciate that. And I would like to come back to Cambridge for a course with cadaver of mastering intestinal and vascular sutures and a preparation of a neo-bladder. Let me know about it if it is possible.
My best wishes and regards
H B (2017)
1. Did the course improve your own skills as a surgeon? Yes
2. In which particular ways? - knotting, needle holder use, general principles, anastomotic techniques, something else? All of the above
3. Have you performed any hand-done anastomoses since the course? How did they compare with what you did in the workshop? Not myself
4. Did the course increase your confidence in tackling anastomoses? Definitely
5. If you are a trainee or a consultant were your consultants or colleagues interested in hearing about what you'd been taught? Did they change their practice in any way as a result? We discussed at length
6. Which aspects of the course have you found most valuable since the course? Good to go over basic principles, hands on approach, urology
7. Have you seen any of your own audit figures for anastomotic leaks, perhaps comparing outcomes before and after the course? N/A
8. In the present era of increasing laparoscopic surgery, have you performed laparoscopic anastomoses? Did the Cambridge course assist you in doing them? If so, how? No
9. Should surgical trainees attend this course or similar courses as part of their mandatory training? Yes
10. Is there anything else you would like to say? A lecture on anastomotic leaks, and decisions regarding defunctioning etc would have been helpful
O A (2017)
1. Did the course improve your own skills as a surgeon? yes
2. In which particular ways? - knotting, needle holder use, general principles, anastomotic techniques, something else? confidence, suture placement, instrument handling
3. Have you performed any hand-done anastomoses since the course? How did they compare with what you did in the workshop? used the same techniques
4. Did the course increase your confidence in tackling anastomoses? Massive improvement
5. If you are a trainee or a consultant were your consultants or colleagues interested in hearing about what you'd been taught? Did they change their practice in any way as a result? no
6. Which aspects of the course have you found most valuable since the course? The wide variety of techniques demonstrated
7. Have you seen any of your own audit figures for anastomotic leaks, perhaps comparing outcomes before and after the course? No anastomotic leaks in post course anastomoses (4x hand sown, 3 stapled) 6 vascular anastomoses
8. In the present era of increasing laparoscopic surgery, have you performed laparoscopic anastomoses? Did the Cambridge course assist you in doing them? If so, how? No
9. Should surgical trainees attend this course or similar courses as part of their mandatory training? Yes
10. Is there anything else you would like to say? Keep up the hard work running such a intensive and high quality course
Thank you for the excellent course
K B (2017)
1. Did the course improve your own skills as a surgeon? Definitely.
2. In which particular ways? - knotting, needle holder use, general principles, anastomotic techniques, something else? All above - specially tips from supervisors.
3. Have you performed any hand-done anastomoses since the course? How did they compare with what you did in the workshop? In principle was the same as workshop except work in dealing with bowel mesentery.
4. Did the course increase your confidence in tackling anastomoses? Definitely.
5. If you are a trainee or a consultant were your consultants or colleagues interested in hearing about what you'd been taught? Did they change their practice in any way as a result? They certainly asked about the course and my thoughts about it.
6. Which aspects of the course have you found most valuable since the course? Having opportunity to ask about some of the problems I have had in the past was great.
7. Have you seen any of your own audit figures for anastomotic leaks, perhaps comparing outcomes before and after the course? I have only done only a few anastomoses since. Have not had a leak for years (as I am very selective which one I should be doing as a Gynaecological Oncologist).
8. In the present era of increasing laparoscopic surgery, have you performed laparoscopic anastomoses? Did the Cambridge course assist you in doing them? If so, how? No
9. Should surgical trainees attend this course or similar courses as part of their mandatory training? It is already mandatory for all Gynaecological Oncologists.
10. Is there anything else you would like to say? Training with stapling devices would also be very helpful.
M P (2017)
Italy
The course improved my skills in every aspect
Yes I have performed in obstetric and gynaecological operations what I have learnt
I am grateful to Professors, all with a special mention to Clive Quick
C N (2015)
Hi Clive,
Your course is the best course I have ever been on. It was highly educational and well run.
1. Yes my skills have improved immensely
2. Anastomotic techniques were extremely useful - knowing when and how to perform hand sewn anastomosis.
3. Yes I have performed several hand sewn anastomosis - high up in the duodenum and very low in the pelvis following anterior resection. In the latter example the gun misfired so it was very useful to have the skills of hand sewing the anastomosis.
4. Definitely increased my confidence in hand seen anastomosis
5. Yes I spoke to several people about what you had taught us - not sure if their practice changed though.
6. The most useful aspect is all the anastomosis you taught us.
7. I have not had an anastomosis leak yet -I am sure it's a matter of time and it's probably because I don't do enough. I have only done about 50 so far.
8. I have not done any anastomosis laparoscopically as he majority of our bowel resection are done open as they have ovarian cancer and have the abdomen open for that reason.
9. Definitely think the course should be mandatory- it is for gynae oncologists
10. Great idea to sell a DVD - I have found it very useful to go over the course material again.
Thanks again for a great course
R (2015)
1. Did the course improve your own skills as a surgeon? Yes
2. In which particular ways? - knotting, needle holder use, general principles, anastomotic techniques, something else? Hand tying, how to palm the needle holder, getting more dextrous in general with instruments, learning how to economise movements, how to work deep down in the pelvis, how to complete a hand sewn anastomosis
3. Have you performed any hand-done anastomoses since the course? How did they compare with what you did in the workshop? Yes I have- it was led by my consultant giving me feedback and guidance on his preferred technique but it was useful to have done it (slightly) differently before- the end principles are the same
4. Did the course increase your confidence in tackling anastomoses? Yes definitely!!
5. If you are a trainee or a consultant were your consultants or colleagues interested in hearing about what you'd been taught? Did they change their practice in any way as a result? I am a trainee; I did not mention any other techniques in detail but I explained the steps I had been shown before. He was pleased I had done it before.
6. Which aspects of the course have you found most valuable since the course? How to suture the bladder. How to work in the pelvis.
7. Have you seen any of your own audit figures for anastomotic leaks, perhaps comparing outcomes before and after the course? No - not yet- I am currently ST3- I attended the course as a CT1.
8. In the present era of increasing laparoscopic surgery, have you performed laparoscopic anastomoses? Did the Cambridge course assist you in doing them? If so, how? No.
9. Should surgical trainees attend this course or similar courses as part of their mandatory training? Yes definitely- I highly recommend it!!
10. Is there anything else you would like to say? I have thoroughly enjoyed this course- it is real value for money and a must-attend course for general surgical trainees!!
Muhammad E A Khan
I am Muhammad Khan who attended the Cambridge Anastomosis Workshop as one of the candidates recently.
The quality and the content of teaching on the course was excellent. It was a great privilege to have been tutored and taught by eminent surgeons including yourself, Professor Ellis, Professor Kirk, Mr Lane, Mr Whitaker, Mr Saleh, Mr Hall and Mr Hayes. I should take this opportunity to congratulate Ms. Lucy Bailey on successfully organising such an excellent course.
I think that this course provides the teaching of skills that a surgeon should essentially possess to practice as a surgeon. It is the practice of these surgical skills that would help a surgeon to become more and more perfect. The most important thing is that a surgeon should be a safe surgeon and should be able to recognise when an anastomosis is not right and should make full effort to ensure that the anastomosis is safe, secure and correct.
The course has made me more confident with regards to my surgical skills. I think that all surgical trainees should spend time on such a course such as the Cambridge Anastomosis Workshop that would help them learn and develop their surgical skills.
Mr Muhammad E A Khan, MBBS, MRCSEd
Clinical Teaching Fellow in Surgery, Mayday University Hospital NHS Trust