About

This intensive, hands-on one-day fresh frozen cadaver course is designed to provide general surgical trainees with direct experience of performing a range of fundamental open procedures. Using unembalmed fresh frozen cadavers, this course offers realistic, high-fidelity surgical conditions to replicate the anatomy, tissue texture, and operative challenges encountered in real clinical settings.

Prior to the practical component, delegates will be required to attend a virtual session (held via Zoom) on the evening (1830-2030 hours) of Friday 25^th July. This theoretical session will cover the surgical anatomy, clinical indications, step-by-step operative techniques, common intraoperative challenges, and technical refinements relevant to each procedure.

On the day of the course, delegates will rotate through dedicated operative stations, each led by experienced faculty. A high faculty-to-delegate ratio ensures close supervision, direct feedback, and step-by-step instruction. Delegates will be exposed to or will perform a number of open procedures, including, but not limited to,:

• Inguinal hernia repair
• Laparotomy and closure techniques
• Repair of small and large bowel perforations
• Small bowel resection and colectomies with hand-sewn anastomosis
• Gastric mobilisation
• Gastrectomy
• Gastrojejunostomy
• Kocher manoeuvre
• Cholecystectomy
• Splenectomy
• Formation and closure of loop ileostomy and end colostomy
• Hartmann’s procedure
• Damage control laparotomy

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course, the trainee will be able to:

1. identify key anatomical landmarks and surgical planes relevant to open general surgical procedures on fresh frozen cadavers.
2. perform a range of elective and emergency open surgical operations with attention to technical accuracy, tissue respect, and safe operative flow.
3. execute hand-sewn gastrointestinal anastomoses and abdominal wall closures using appropriate suture techniques.
4. manage intraoperative challenges such as contamination, bleeding, and friable tissue through structured operative planning and technique modification.
5. reflect on performance and incorporate expert feedback to guide further development of operative competence in open general surgery.

Target Audience:

• Post-MRCS Level Advanced Core Trainees or Equivalent (CT2 or above)
• General Surgery Registrars (ST3–ST5) or Equivalent Level of Training

Course Duration:

One-Day Hands-On Course with Pre-Course Virtual Theory Session