Laparoscopic urological skills - Step 1 (LUSs1)
This basic laparoscopic training programme is the first step in the Laparoscopic Urological Skills (LUS) curriculum. It designed to provide urologists with a fundamental understanding of laparoscopy and enhance their laparoscopic skills.
This comprehensive training is specifically tailored for urologists who possess a basic level of knowledge in laparoscopy and wish to improve their proficiency in key laparoscopic techniques. The course comprises four essential exercises aimed at honing skills related to depth perception and bimanual dexterity: Peg Transfer, Circle Cut, Needle Guidance, and Knot Tying.
Training aim
The primary objective of this programme is to enhance participants’ laparoscopic skills, focusing on key aspects such as depth perception and bimanual dexterity. By the end of the course, attendees should feel more confident and competent in their basic laparoscopic skills.
- Hands-on Training.
- Semi-live surgery sessions.
- Operating area setup and organization.
- The management of equipment
- Standardized technical approach of a urological procedure.
- Surgical strategy and benchmarks for certain urological indications.
- Management of critical details related to an urological procedure.
Exercises
Peg transfer
Aim: To transfer the objects one by one from one side of the board to the other and back
Skill: Ambidexterity
Instruments: two graspers
Error: Dropped object (dropped object should not be picked up)
Target time: 126 seconds
Cutting a circle
Skill: Cutting as applied in partial nephrectomy
Instruments: One scissor and one grasper
Error: Cut in or beyond the two black lines
Target time: 151 seconds
N.B.: Cutting the second layer of gauze is not recorded as an error
Needle guidance
Skill: Ambidexterity and needle positioning in the needle drivers
Instruments: two needle drivers and one braided suture 3-0 with curved needle
Error: Entering a ring from the wrong side
Target time: 268 seconds
Knot tying
Aim: To tie a single knot with one double-throw and two single-throws
Skill: Endoscopic single knot tying
Instruments: Two needle drivers (or one needle driver and one grasper) and a braided suture 3-0 with curved needle (approx. 20cm length).
Errors:
– Stitch beyond 1mm of the black dots in one or both dots
– A gap remains in the slit of the penrose drain after tying the knot
– A slipping knot
– The penrose drain comes loose from the board
– The penrose drain is torn apart
Target time: 360 seconds
LUSs1 Certification
To pass the initial stage of the Laparoscopic Urological Skills (LUS) curriculum, you must successfully navigate through both the European Basic Laparoscopic Urological Skills exam (E-BLUS) and the theoretical course.
The European training in basic laparoscopic urological skills (E-BLUS) e-course helps urologists to:
– Understand the history of laparoscopy;
– Use different basic instruments;
– Understand general aspects of laparoscopy.
Train yourself
A set of training-box exercises developed and validated by the Dutch project Training in Urology (TiU) to train basic skills needed in urological laparoscopy, order here.