Mastery of these advanced laparoscopic skills by the resident is encouraged prior to initiating an experience performing advanced laparoscopic operations. Experience in the performance of a specific operation via celiotomy will also facilitate mastery of the similar laparoscopic procedure using a minimal access approach. Since many advanced laparoscopic skills are common to all advanced laparoscopic operations, experience in a specific operation enhances the acquisition of skills necessary to perform others. Therefore it is the combined experience in advanced procedures that should be emphasized during training, rather than the mastery of any one individual procedure. Residents should ultimately learn these procedures in the operating room under the direction of skilled faculty instructors.
Most programs provide adequate experience in basic laparoscopic surgery.
These courses, offered twice yearly, are two day courses for residents focusing on the basic principles and skills of endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery. This intensive training provided a mechanism to train more than 250 surgical faculty. The need for training in basic laparoscopy has diminished. Faculty members interested in obtaining advanced laparoscopic training may benefit from advanced laparoscopic courses. See Section B1.