Minimal Access

The NSTC has been at the forefront of Minimal Access Surgery since its first course in Sept 2007. Since then expert National and International Faculty led by surgeons from Newcastle Hospitals have trained over 800 surgeons, nurses and allied health professionals from UK and abroad in the operating room set-up, patient preparation and techniques of advanced minimal access surgery.
 
The cadaveric model has been shown to mimic normal operating conditions with regard to anatomical structures, planes of tissue dissection, colour and flexibility of tissues. This has been recognised by surgeons from many disciplines and the demand for such courses has risen dramatically over recent years. Minimal access courses taking place at the NSTC include colorectal surgery, prostatectomy, liver surgery, abdominal wall hernia surgery, cystectomy, upper GI and arthroscopic surgery.
 
The NSTC formed an integral part of the successful bid for Newcastle to become a National Training Centre for the Department of Health’s National Training Programme in Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery. The use of fresh cadavers allows for practical hands-on sessions with operating theatre conditions, state of the art surgical equipment, expert faculty and precise reproduction of each step involved in these advanced procedures.
 
The NSTC has helped surgical staff at Newcastle to be at the forefront of new technology and to be among the first surgeons in the World to pioneer the techniques of Natural Orifice Surgery and Single-port surgery which has transcended from a laboratory technique to the operating theatres at Newcastle Hospitals.