Advanced Minimal Access Hernia Surgery
By Apollo Simulation Centre
Course Description
The field of minimal access surgery (MAS) has experienced significant growth over the past two decades. MAS offers numerous advantages over traditional surgery, such as shorter hospital stays, reduced analgesic use, and better cosmetic outcomes. However, MAS can also present unexpected complications, requiring a cautious and practiced approach. This blended learning programme, Advanced Minimal Access Hernia Surgery (aMAS Hernia), is designed to help you learn evidence-based principles and improve your surgical performance. Hands-on experience at the Apollo Simulation Centre (ASC) will enhance your skills, minimising complications. The programme caters to both beginners and experienced professionals, covering essential topics like ergonomic principles, dissection and tissue approximation techniques, and anesthetic considerations, as well as advanced laparoscopic procedures in hernia surgery, including robotic surgery.
CME Credits
ASC is applying for certification as a comprehensive Accredited Education Institute by Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University. Once accredited, CME credit points will be added to all ASC courses.
Resolution of Conflicts of Interest (COI)
It is important to note that, apart from the instruments presented in sessions, neither ASC nor the invited speakers have any motivation to promote specific medical device brands. Participants are free to use any brand of their choice. The ASC’s industrial and research partners do not influence the creation or organisation of programmes or the selection of experts. All course faculty members and healthcare professionals are committed to maintaining their professional autonomy and independence from the medical device industry.
Learning Outcomes
- Perform dissection and tissue approximation tasks following evidence-based surgical principles.
- Understand and manage complications associated with minimal access surgery.
- Acquire expert knowledge on recent advances in minimal access hernia procedures.
- Properly and safely use laparoscopic instruments, ensuring regular maintenance.
- Significantly improve surgical performance through simulation experience and advanced assessment.
- Enhance non-technical skills, such as surgical team setup, resource management, and unit organisation.
Course Price: ₹0.00
Course Duration:
3 Days
New Batch Starts on
Contact Us
Webinars, panels and small group discussions
Equipment, instrument and procedure demonstrations
Dry laboratory training on all technical aspect of MAS
Live demonstrations/master videos of various surgical procedures
Wet lab for hands-on experience during selected courses
Offers
Curriculum
Online Course Module
All didactic lectures will be available as online modules for candidates interested in online-only certification and to all onsite course participants to prepare for the contact course well in advance. All the required theory knowledge will be learnt through this web platform. There will be a Q&A section available after each lecture to interact with the faculty for any additional doubts to be clarified.
| S. No | Topic | Faculty | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to laparoscopy | Dr. Prasanna Kumar | History and development |
| 2 | Laparoscopic instruments | Dr. Prem Balachandran | Image chain, lap trolley |
| 3 | Basic principles | Dr. Raj Palaniappan | Ergonomics of setup and access |
| 4 | Energy sources | Dr. Venkat Subraminaim | Electrosurgery, ultrasonics |
| 5 | Access techniques | Dr. Muralidharan | Pneumoperitoneum creation |
| 6 | Tissue approximation | Dr. Raj Palaniappan | Suturing, staplers, glue |
| 7 | Equipment maintenance | Dr. Nikhilesh Krishna | Safety, sterilisation, storage |
| 8 | Anaesthetic considerations | Dr. Elayaraja | ERAS, specific considerations |
| 9 | Troubleshooting | Dr. Raj Palaniappan | Tips to overcome difficulties |
| 10 | Robotic surgery | Dr. Venki Munikrishnan | Benefits, modifications |
| 11 | EndoHernia anatomy and radiology | Dr. Prem Balachandran | Inguinal, abdominal wall |
| 12 | Prosthesis and fixators | Dr. Jameel Akhther | Mesh, tackers, techniques |
| 13 | Optimising patients for surgery | Dr. Venkat Subraminaiam | Preparation and timing of surgery |
| 14 | Approach to groin hernias | Dr. Sudeepta Kumar | TAP, TEPP, complications, post-op |
| 15 | Approach to abdominal wall hernia | Dr. Prem Balachandran | IPOM, TARM, eTEP, complications |
| 16 | Abdominal wall reconstruction | Dr. Prem Balachandran | TAR, RS, complications, post-op |
| 17 | Emergency hernia management | Dr. Jameel JKA | Modalities to overcome difficulties |
| 18 | Difficult and revisional hernias | Dr. Prem Balachandran | Challenges and tricks |
| 19 | Recent advances and future | Dr. Nikhilesh Krishna | Procedures, instruments, prosthesis |
| 20 | Setting up a lap unit | Dr. Muralidharan | Guidelines, SOPs, setup, training |
Onsite Course Module
The three day contact course is aimed at providing practical knowledge about everything that one needs to know about minimal access hernia surgery. This is achieved by way of 50% of time spent on panel discussions, live surgical demonstrations and 50% time on hands on training including dry and simulation laboratory.
Day 1: ASC
| Time | Event | Location | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:45 | Registration and pairing | Lounge | Welcoming of participants |
| 09:00 | D1: Instruments/Prosthesis | EndoSuite | Image chain, lap trolley |
| 09:45 | D2: Basic principles | EndoSuite | Ergonomics of set-up and access |
| 10:30 | D3: Access techniques | EndoSuite | Creation of working space |
| 11:00 | Coffee/Tea – Lounge | ||
| 11:15 | H1: Access and dexterity | Skills Lab | Dissection and scissors exercise |
| 12:00 | H2: Knotting and suturing | Skills Lab | Technique and steps |
| 12:30 | Lunch – Lounge | ||
| 13:30 | P1: Which hernia repair? | Skills Lab | Advantages and disadvantages |
| 14:00 | P2: Hernia master videos | Skills Lab | Tips and tricks |
| 15:00 | Coffee/Tea – Lounge | ||
| 15:15 | H3: Extracorporeal knotting | Skills Lab | Endoloop, torn sac looping |
| 16:15 | H4: Intracorporeal suturing | Skills Lab | Needle handling, suturing |
| 16:45 | Summary | Lounge | Views, recap and group photo |
| 17:00 | End of Day 1 | ||
Day 2: ASC
| Time | Event | Location | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:45 | Overview | Lounge | Pairing |
| 09:00 | H5: Mesh handling | Skills lab | Technique and steps |
| 09:45 | H6: Mesh placement | Skills lab | Technique and steps |
| 11:00 | Coffee/Tea | ||
| 11:15 | H7: Mesh fixation | Skills lab | Technique, steps |
| 11:45 | H8: Mesh suturing | Skills lab | Technique, steps |
| 12:30 | Lunch | ||
| 13:30 | P3: Controversies and problems | Board room | How to overcome difficulties |
| 14:00 | P4: Mishap videos | Board room | Complications, troubleshooting |
| 15:00 | Coffee/Tea | ||
| 15:15 | E1: OSCE | Skills Lab | Practical exam |
| 16:30 | E2: Results and certification | Skills Lab | Analysis of performance |
| 16:45 | Summary and feedback | Lounge | Views and recap |
| 17:00 | End of Day 2 | ||
Day 3: ASC/EISE
| Time | Event | Location | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:45 | Overview | OT Lounge | Pairing |
| 09:00 | S1: TAP/TEP inguinal hernia | OT | Technique, steps |
| 10:30 | Coffee/Tea | ||
| 11:00 | S2: e-TEP ventral hernia | OT | Step by step approach |
| 12:30 | Lunch | ||
| 13:30 | S3: AWR (Lap/Robotic) | OT | Step by step approach |
| 15:00 | Coffee/Tea | ||
| 16:30 | Summary | OT Lounge | Views and feedbacks |
| 17:00 | End of the Course | ||
Preceptorship Program Module
ASC courses involve preceptorship through clinical observership and mentorship programme depending on the plan candidate chose. Scrubbing for surgeries based on the clinical knowledge and skill of the candidate. The candidate will be required to complete a logbook of the patients and procedures/surgeries attended during the preceptorship period.
Observership program
Observership includes a short 3-day period of attachment with the respective speciality unit to witness live surgeries and ward rounds of various surgeries as per availability in the respective speciality.
Mentorship program
Mentorship involves a much longer 3-week period of clinical attachment to the speciality unit, with the possibility of surgeon shadowing through managing outpatient/inpatient services and assisting procedures/surgeries.
Objective Assessment Module
Objective clinical assessment remains the most replicable and standardised scoring system to evaluate the candidates of their knowledge and skill. This is achieved through the following methods in ASC aMAS Hernia courses.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
Online lectures are assessed by way of Multiple Choice Questions at the end of each lectures. 10 random questions will be asked once the lecture is complete. The candidate will be appearing for the questions and should score 50% to move on to next lecture.
Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
Skills and technique assessment will be done through OSCE at the end of the contact course. Each student will be performing various tasks like dissection, suturing, stapling, mesh placement, tacker application, etc. which we objectively assessed through scoring key. The number of stations will vary between 8 and 12. At the end of the examination, a cumulative score of 70% will be required to clear the assessment.
Faculty
Patron
Dr. Prasanna Kumar Reddy
Consultant Surgeon,
Department of Surgical Gastroenterology,
Apollo Hospitals, Chennai
Program Director
Dr. Muralidharan M
Consultant Surgeon,
Department of General Surgery,
Apollo Cradle Hospitals, Chennai
Course Convenor
Dr. Raj Palaniappan
Director and Lead Surgeon,
Institute of Bariatrics,
Apollo Hospitals, Chennai
Course Co-ordinator
Dr. Premkumar Balachandran
Consultant Surgeon and Coordinator,
Institute of Hernia and Anterior Wall Reconstruction,
Apollo Hospitals, Chennai
Faculty
Dr. Sudeepta Kumar Swain
Consultant,
Robotic Gastrointestinal Surgeon,
Apollo Hospitals, Chennai
Dr. J.K.A. Jameel
Senior Consultant, Surgical Gastroenterologist and Minimal Access Surgeon,
Apollo Hospitals, Chennai
Dr. Charles Mano Sylus
Consultant Surgeon,
Department of General Surgery,
Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Vanagaram, Chennai
Dr. Nikhilesh Krishna
Consultant Surgeon,
Department of Minimal Access Surgery,
Apollo Hospitals, Chennai
Dr. Jameel Akther
Consultant Surgeon,
Department of General Surgery,
Apollo Hospitals, Chennai
Dr. R.Venkata Subramaniam
Consultant Surgeon,
Department of General Surgery,
Apollo Hospitals, Chennai
Dr. Ravindran Kumeran
Senior Consultant,
Gastrointestinal Surgery and GI Oncology,
Apollo First Med Hospitals, Chennai
Dr. Santosh Anand KS
Consultant,
Robotic and Laparoscopic GI Cancer Surgeon,
Apollo Hospitals, Chennai
Dr. Senthil Kumar K
Professor,
Department of General Surgery,
Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Kelambakkam
Dr. Subbaiah TS
Associate Consultant,
General Surgery,
Apollo Hospitals, Chennai
Fee
Note
- INR: Inclusive of GST payable on submission of application.
- All above-mentioned fees are applicable only for Indian nationals. Conversion and bank charges for international payments will be additional.
Documents Required
- The applicant should enclose a valid postgraduate degree certificate.
- Postgraduate students should submit their undergraduate certificate and letter from the Head of the Department.
- Address proof (Aadhaar card/Passport).
- Kindly note that all the applications shall be screened and selected by the course convenor.
