Courses for Surgeons

Laparoscopic and Hand-Assisted Colorectal Surgery
Description: Intensive, one-day course includes lectures followed by hands-on experience in a cadaveric model, allowing participants to perform laparoscopic colon resection.

Course Directors: James W. Fleshman Jr., M.D.; Matthew G. Mutch, M.D.

Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair
Description: One-day course for the general surgeon interested in performing laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. Provides a review of the history of ventral hernia repair, an update on prosthetic biomaterials for intra-abdominal placement, instruction in patient selection, room set-up and patient positioning, and a detailed description of laparoscopic ventral hernia repair with video supplementation to incorporate safe abdominal access, trocar strategies, laparoscopic adhesiolysis, mesh placement and mesh fixation. Participants perform laparoscopic ventral hernia repair with direct instruction from WUIMIS faculty.

Course Director: Brent D. Matthews, M.D.

Advanced Laparoscopic Ventral and Incisional Hernia Repair
Description: One-day course for the general surgeon interested in advanced instruction in the difficult ventral incisional hernia patient. Observation of a laparoscopic ventral hernia repair at Barnes-Jewish Hospital offered. Includes lectures with video supplementation by Washington University surgery faculty and invited experts in laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. Provides detailed instruction on abdominal access in the reoperative abdomen, laparoscopic adhesiolysis in patients with intra-abdominal mesh and techniques to perform laparoscopic ventral hernia repair in patients with recurrent ventral hernias and atypical hernias such as suprapubic, flank/lumbar and spigelian hernias. Complication avoidance and management will be detailed.

Course Director: Brent D. Matthews, M.D.

Mini-Fellowship in Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery
Description: Two-day observational fellowship (limited to six surgeons). Participants view advanced laparoscopic surgery at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. A disease-specific approach permits more comprehensive instruction. Includes laparoscopic ventral incisional and inguinal hernia repair, laparoscopic and hand-assisted colectomy, and laparoscopic foregut surgery for gastroesophageal reflux disease, paraesophageal hernia and achalasia. Didactic session provides instruction and an evidence-based review. A laboratory session can be coordinated at the request of the course participant.

Course Directors: Brent D. Matthews, M.D.; L. Michael Brunt, M.D.