Minimal access surgery

When you have completed this course, you will be able to:

• select patients for laparoscopic surgery
• recognise main laproscopic equipment and instruments
• address common risks and safety issues associated with laparoscopic surgery, such as those associated with entry techniques and use of energy devices
• describe operative steps for common laparoscopic procedures such as ovarian cystectomy and treatment of ectopic pregnancy
• describe techniques for specimen retrieval, adhesion prevention and port closure.

​Dr Tarek El Shamy MBBCH, MSc, MRCOG, PgCert (2018, 2022)

Tarek El Shamy is a locum Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. He has special interest in benign Gynaecological surgery and Urogynaecology.

Dr Sarah Wali, MRCOG, MA (2018, 2022)

Sarah Wali is a North West London trainee with an interest in endometriosis and minimal access surgery. She is the current BSGE RIGS London trainee representative and is heavily involved in laparoscopic simulation training.

Dr Saad Amer, FRCOG, MD (2022)

Saad Amer is a Professor at the University of Nottingham and a Consultant Gynaecologist at Derby Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. His main interests are research and minimal access surgery. He is the lead for endometriosis service at Royal Derby Hospital.

This course is intended to help clinicians gain core knowledge for O&G training and the MRCOG examinations. It can also be used by O&G consultants to refresh their knowledge of the area or for teaching.

The content of this course relates to the following Capabilities in Practice (CiPs) and key skills:

CiP 9: Emergency gynaecology and early pregnancy
Manages non-pregnancy pelvic pain
Manages complications of treatment
Manages bleeding in early pregnancy
Manages other early pregnancy complications

CiP 11: Non-emergency gynaecology and early pregnancy
Manages pelvic masses

Further details about each CiP can be found within the O&G Core Curriculum 2024 Definitive Document, available here.

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Diagnosis and management of ectopic pregnancy. Green-top Guideline 21. London: RCOG; 2016.

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Laparoscopic management of tubal ectopic pregnancy. Consent Advice 8. London: RCOG; 2010.