title: Microsurgical training course for clinicians and scientists at a German University hospital: a 10-year experience.
abstract: Microsurgical techniques are being increasingly applied in almost all surgical disciplines. However, the opportunities to learn these skills in a structured course are rare. We have conducted a 5-day microsurgical training course on a yearly basis since 1991. The course follows step-by-step training, starting with nonvital models for vascular and nerval microanastomoses. As the participants improve, exercises on laboratory animals are offered to close the gap between nonliving models and the clinical situation. Lectures provide theoretical and clinical background information. Clinical and experimental applications can be witnessed and practiced in a second part of the course. With this step-by-step curriculum, we conduct a successful training program, e.g., each participant is able to perform microvascular and nerval anastomoses on a reproducible basis. The organization, program, and execution of the training course are presented, together with an evaluation of the course concept by the participants concerning expectations, learning success, and level of satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Steger
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Timmermann
authors.forename: Arnulf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thiede
authors.forename: Heinz-Jochen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Gassel
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000193:education; D005858:Germany; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000193:education*; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*