Basic Laparoscopy Course in Madrid

Yesterday I participated as invited teacher at the Basic Laparoscopic Urology Course organised by Dr. Ignacio Castillón (upper photo), director of the Escuela Europea de Laparoscopia Urológica (European School of Laparoscopic Urology) in collaboration with the Instituto de Cirugía Urológica Avanzada (Institute of Advanced Urological Surgery).

The objective was to initiate in laparoscopy techniques to a group of eight urologists. Nowadays laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery is taking over open surgery and has important advantages for patients. Urologists have to learn these techniques in courses like this and aquire the surgical skills before they can apply these techniques to the treatment of their patients. .
The course took place in four different surgical theatres, perfectly equipped thanks to the generosity of Olympus and other sponsoring companies that provided laparoscopy surgical instruments. This initiative would have not been possible without the collaboration of the Hospital Clínico Veterinario, an ideal place for this kind of courses. The presence of other very experienced urologists as Dr. Estébanez, laparoscopist from San Sebastián, and Dr. Páez, head of the department of urology of the NHS Hospital of Fuenlabrada in Madrid, helped to ensure that the quality of the training was superb. The participants in the course thought the course was "excellent", as it showed in the evaluation forms we provided them at the end of the course. The Escuela Europea de Laparoscopia Urológica (European School of Laparoscopic Urology) organises basic laparoscopy courses and also more specialised courses as the one in Advanced Renal Surgery that will take place in February. Urologists interested in these courses can contact the school coordinator, Ana María Muñoz, her telephone number is +34914352844.