CLAS hosts international courses

The Anatomical Sciences Laboratory (ASL) in the Centre for Learning Anatomical Sciences recently hosted a sequence of Fresh Frozen cadaveric ENT surgical courses.

Although primarily known for facilitating anatomical education with embalmed, prosected cadavers for undergraduate medical students and various groups of health care professionals, in recent years the ASL has extended its services to accommodate fresh frozen cadaveric surgical courses. These courses are an excellent enterprise opportunity to utilise its spacious and flexible facility.

The first of the recent courses was the 12th international Frontal Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) cadaver surgical course, the third time it has been run in the ASL. This international event attracted a record number of delegates from all over the world, including surgeons who attended specifically to dissect or observe and took their new skills and practical knowledge to implement in their home countries. The course was organised by Mr Ashok Rokade (Winchester ENT surgeon) and facilitated by ASL Manager, Dr David Walker, and Deputy ASL Manager, Ellen Adams.

In the following days, the lab hosted a two day Wessex Facial Plastic Surgery Course and a further two one-day courses: the Wessex Otology Surgical Course and the Wessex Faculty Cadaveric Airway Course.

These courses are a major venture for the ASL and their success depends on David and Ellen’s enthusiasm and extensive experience and knowledge of operational laboratory business practice and cadaveric care, along with a willingness to extend business hours to accommodate such an event. The feedback from the wider medical community, surgical equipment companies, delegates, faculty members and surgeons has been overwhelmingly positive.

Further information about the Centre for Learning Anatomical Sciences can be found at www.southampton.ac.uk/clas.