ESU Urology Boot Camp Lisbon 2022

Technical skills training to 1st-year residents

Prof. Ben Van Cleynenbreugel

Dept. of Urology University Hospitals

Leuven Leuven (BE)

Ben. Vancleynenbreugel@ uzleuven.be

Mr. Shekhar Biyani

Dept. of Urology

St. James’s University Hospital

Leeds (GB) shekharbiyani@ hotmail.com

Dr. Tiago Oliveira

Depts of Urology

Armed Forces Hospital

Lisbon University Hospital Lisbon (PT) tiagoribeirooliveira@ sapo.pt

In light of the limitations of traditional surgical training, over the past decades, simulation-based training has been extensively explored and used as an adjunct to traditional surgical training, namely for the development of technical skills via individual hands-on practice.

A comprehensive approach to surgical training in urology

In recent years, the European School of Urology (ESU) and the European Association of Urology (EAU) sections have been developing a series of structured and integrated training curricula in specific urological techniques. In view of the clear success of these activities, the ESU has created the Standardisation in Surgical Education (SISE) programme, which is a collaborative venture aiming to implement a comprehensive approach to all training activities within the EAU. SISE encompasses a series of structured, standardised and validated training curricula targeted at all trainee levels. The first step in the programme is the ESU Urology Boot Camp.

The ESU Urology Boot Camp project

Developed in Leeds by Mr. Shekhar Biyani (GB), the Urology Simulation Boot Camp, is a revolutionary course that, over five days of intensive training, aims to provide basic technical and non-technical skills for urology registrars in the United Kingdom. From the ground-breaking evidence originating from this course, the ESU Urology Boot Camp project was developed to provide technical skills training to urology residents throughout Europe, within the framework of the SISE programme.

One of the most important hallmarks of the ESU Urology Boot Camp is the 1:1:1 training model, where one trainee has a dedicated training station and an experienced trainer for the entire duration of each module, therefore maximising the learning experience. With a series of different low- and high-fidelity models and a considerable amount of state-of-the-art urological equipment, trainees are provided standardised hands-on training on laparoscopy, flexible and semi-rigid ureterorenoscopy, transurethral resection of the prostate and bladder tumours, flexible and rigid cystoscopy, bladder catheterisation, suprapubic catheter placement, scrotal examination and circumcision.

Following a very successful pilot course in Portugal in 2018, additional courses have been organised in Portugal, Belgium, Serbia, Lithuania, Austria, Greece and Poland. After 12 courses, organised in seven different countries, more than 160 European residents from 14 nationalities have attended the ESU Urology Boot Camp, more than 87% of which considering the course extremely useful for their near future.

ESU Urology Boot Camp Lisbon 2022

The fourth edition of the ESU Urology Boot Camp in Portugal was organised on 19 November, 2022 at Fortaleza de São Julião da Barra, which is a historical military fort developed for the coastal defence of the Port of Lisbon and currently the official residence of the Minister of Defence.

The course was organised by the ESU and the Lisbon Faculty of Medicine Centre for Postgraduate Training in Urology (CFU), in collaboration with the Armed Forces Hospital and the Lisbon University Hospital Centre, the scientific support of the Portuguese Association of Urology and the Portuguese College of Physicians’ Board of Urology, and the sponsorship of Karl Storz, Teprel, Janssen, Boston Scientific, Medtronic, and Mediplus.

The intensive course programme provided participants the opportunity to acquire and train several urological skills in eight hours of hands-on training. Each participant was assigned a dedicated model and individually guided by a trainer. This was a unique opportunity for first-year urology residents to learn a series of different technical skills that are of paramount importance in daily clinical practice. The quality of the models and equipment, the motivation and competence of the faculty, and the use of ESU’s validated training models warranted the clear success of the course amongst the participants.

clinical activities. The focused training can help improve clinical proficiency and self-confidence. In 2023, a first edition of the course is planned for Germany, Italy and Romania in addition to the new edition of the ESU Urology Boot Camp in Portugal, Belgium, Serbia, the Baltic countries, Austria, Greece and Poland.

The organisation of future ESU Urology Boot Camps will be initiated via the SISE programme platform.

The ESU Urology Boot Camp Working Group will analyse all new Boot Camp requests and provide a step-by-step manual, a checklist, and a timeline for the implementation of every course to support and guide the organising committees throughout the entire process. The ESU Urology Boot Camp Working Group will also prepare a “Train the Trainer” course for all the faculty to ensure the highest quality of training. To guide and facilitate the implementation of the course, a previous visit as an external observer to another Boot Camp will be part of the process. For more information on the programme, please visit https://www.sise-urology.com/