Laparoscopic Urologic Surgery

Welcome! This website exists to guide students taking the Urologic Lap elective. Below you will find links to the ciriculum and course description.

This elective was designed to expose medical students to basic laparoscopic techniques and advanced laparoscopy in urology. It will be of particular interest to students who are interested in pursuing a career in general surgery, urology, or gynecology. The elective is flexible and can be tailored to meet the individual student’s objectives.

Prerequisites:
3rd or 4th year status; must have completed surgery, urology, or ob/gyn clerkship

Course components:
60% Clinical; 10% Research; 10% Library; 20% Laparoscopy exercises

Competency offered:
III: Basic Clinical Skills

Clinical:
One day per week will be in the urology clinic primarily involved with evaluation of renal, adrenal and prostate conditions, including malignancy.

Knowledge in Laparoscopy:
This month long elective is designed to expose a student to basic principles of laparoscopy including insufflation of pneumoperitoneum, trocar insertion, electro surgery and hemostatic and suturing techniques. Each student will take a CD based laparoscopy course with self assessment (Laparoscopy 101).

Surgical Skills:
The student will also have an opportunity to test his/her skills on a laparoscopic simulator and improve those skills during specific exercises. Each student is expected to perform a total of 5 hours of specific laparoscopic exercises and maintain a training log with performance scores. These exercises are designed to select students who perform at a higher level. It may help them select their specialty for residency.

Surgical operative technique:
The student will observe advanced laparoscopic procedures of the kidney adrenal and prostate.

Clinical research:
Selected students who are interested may assist with ongoingresearch in collaboration with the laparoscopy fellow. Students who are further interested in this specialty may do an additional month during which he/she will be involved with the clinical research.