Animal Surgical Skills Lab
Twice each year, the residents and faculty of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology participate in an animal surgical skills lab at the Animal Research Center at Clemson University. Residents are able to operate in a supportive, non-threatening environment and greatly improve their knowledge of surgical instruments, energy modalities, as well as skills. Each resident is assigned a partner resident and faculty mentor to operate on a live porcine model for four hours. Skills practiced include laparoscopic trocar placement, use of electrosurgical and harmonic scalpel tools, hand-eye coordination drills, and laparoscopic suturing. At the completion of the laparoscopic skills portion, each team performs a laparotomy to work on open surgical skills and practice repair of injuries to bladder, ureters, bowels and blood vessels. The program concludes with an individual assessment of each residents performance.
Hysteroscopy Skills Lab
Minimally Invasive Surgery Didactic Seminar
Every two years as part of the core curriculum, a seminar on minimally invasive surgery is given. This detailed and focused seminar covers all aspects of gynecologic minimally invasive surgery including laparoscopy and hysteroscopy.
Ultrasound Seminar
Every two years, as part of the core curriculum, a didactic program on all aspects of obstetric and gynecologic ultrasound is offered. The program consists of lectures, hands-on instruction and practice with human models hired for the program.
Operative Vaginal Delivery Lab
Our obstetrics program maintains some of the highest case volume per resident in forceps deliveries in the country. Each year seminars take place to review the indications and techniques for forceps and vacuum delivery.
Surgical Cadaver Lab
Our new surgical cadaver lab will include four components beginning in 2008-2009. They are as follows:
- Episiotomy lab for PGY-1 and PGY-2 residents and bladder suspension lab for PGY-3 and PGY-4 residents.
- Mastering laparotomy skills
- Award laparoscopy and cystoscopy
- Gynecological oncology and retroperitoneal anatomy
Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery
Each resident will participate in the online Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) didactic curriculum. They will also practice specific FLS skills in the laparoscopic lab. Chief residents will take the written skills exam leading to FLS certification on February 4, 2009.