Advanced Microsurgery

The Advanced/Super Microsurgery course involves 40 hours of one-on-one, individualized training of microsurgical and supermicrosurgical techniques in a small class environment where students can learn at their own pace.

In this course, students will brush up on the microsurgical skills they have learned in the Basic Microsurgery course, and then perform procedures incorporating the femoral and epigastric vessels (0.3-1.0 mm diameter), carotid vessels, and various free tissue transfers.

For students who are interested in more technical exercises or practice more complex procedures such as lymphatic vessels anastomoses or surgeries that pertain to their specialties, can choose to do so during last two days of the course by choosing different exercises.

***NEW***

A Neurosurgical focus is now available

This course is an invaluable learning tool to surgeons, because of the degree of customization possible to tailor their curriculum for specialty specific training. Building off the skills learned in the Basic Microsurgery course, students will now be able to finesse their self-control, patience, handling of fragile tissues, attention to detail, manual dexterity, efficiency in completion of an anastomosis, and brain-hand-eye-foot coordination. Because these skills are transferable to other clinical professions, this course is a valuable learning experience for surgeons, clinicians, and researchers alike. Students who successfully complete the curriculum will receive an Advanced Microsurgery Certificate of Training.

This course is for people who have previously completed the basic course and/or have previous microsurgical training who are looking to further finesse their skills in more difficult exercises.

Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes - or bring scrubs.

Day 1 (9:30 AM to 5:30 PM):

Videos (click links below to view videos by the Faculty of Columbia Orthopedics):

• “Two-stay Interrupted End-to-End Anastomosis"
• “Rat Femoral Vein Anastomosis”
• “End-to-side anastomosis“

Practicum:

• Practice end-to-end arterial anastomosis using interrupted suturing.
• Practice end-to-end venous anastomosis using interrupted suturing.
• Practice end-to-side anastomosis using femoral artery to the side of femoral vein.
• Practice end-to-side anastomosis using femoral vein to the side of femoral artery.

Pictures:

Day 2 (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM):

Videos (click links below to view videos by the Faculty of Columbia Orthopedics):

• "Interpositional Vein Graft"

Practicum:

• Practice end-to-end carotid artery anastomosis.
• Practice carotid end-to-side bypass using arterial graft (femoral artery).
• Practice interpositional vein graft using epigastric vein and femoral artery.

Pictures:

Day 3 (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM):

Practicum:

• Groin free tissue flap using femoral vessels as a pedicle.

Pictures:

Day 4 (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM):

Practicum:

• Groin free tissue flap using interior superficial epigastric artery and vein and 11-0 nylon.

Pictures:

Day 5 (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM):

Depending on the specialty of the student, the following exercises could be performed:

• Vasovasostomy and vasoepididymostomy
• Fallopian Tube repair
• Serratus anterior muscle flap to femoral vessels
• Renal transplant using continuous suturing

Supermicrosurgery Alternative Day 4/5:

Depending on the preference of the student, the following exercises could be performed:

• End-to-end anastomosis of the Superficial Inferior Epigastric Artery (SIEA) and Vein (SIEV)
• End-to-side anastomosis of the SIEA to SIEV (AV fistula)
• Interpositional SIEV graft between SIEA
• SIEA bypass