Abstract
This describes the UK history of the evolution of microsurgical training. The author has been involved since the start in 1979 and took a sole teaching role in the courses 2 years later. Before teaching microsurgery the necessary skills were obtained by the performance of various organ transplants in mice, rats and rabbits to investigate organ storage and immunosuppression. This experience identified the pitfalls of microsurgery and amplified the then identified need for meticulous microsurgical training. A basic microsurgical program was then instigated to provide step by step exercises of increasing difficulty. This consisted of microscope set-up, correct positioning, instruments, simulated suture exercises, dissection techniques, end to end arterial and venous anastomosis, end to side anastomosis, interpositional vein grafts, nerve anastomosis and groin flaps – all performed on an anaesthetised rat. Latterly we are now running advanced workshops incorporating supramicrosurgical exercises in the chicken (thigh) and the rat. The microsurgical workshops are still running 41 years later!
Highlights
The authors declare the absence of obvious and potential conflicts of interest related to the publication of this paper
A basic microsurgical program was instigated to provide step by step exercises of increasing difficulty. This consisted of microscope set-up, correct positioning, instruments, simulated suture exercises, dissection techniques, end to end arterial and venous anastomosis, end to side anastomosis, interpositional vein grafts, nerve anastomosis and groin flaps – all performed on an anaesthetised rat
The need for training was instigated by Prof Colin Green ( Medical Research Council (MRC)) who was using microsurgical techniques in his experimental rabbit renal transplantation and by three young like-minded plastic surgeons – Michael Black, Gus McGrowther and Roy Saunders
Summary
This describes the UK history of the evolution of microsurgical training. The author has been involved since the start in 1979 and took a sole teaching role in the courses 2 years later. Before teaching microsurgery the necessary skills were obtained by the performance of various organ transplants in mice, rats and rabbits to investigate organ storage and immunosuppression. This experience identified the pitfalls of microsurgery and amplified the identified need for meticulous microsurgical training. A basic microsurgical program was instigated to provide step by step exercises of increasing difficulty This consisted of microscope set-up, correct positioning, instruments, simulated suture exercises, dissection techniques, end to end arterial and venous anastomosis, end to side anastomosis, interpositional vein grafts, nerve anastomosis and groin flaps – all performed on an anaesthetised rat. Представлена история развития обучения микрохирургии в Великобритании, в котором автор принимала участие с момента старта программы в 1979 г., а 2 года спустя стала единственным преподавателем на курсах.
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