PG19: Male Reproductive Microsurgery: A Hands-On Course
Date:October 21,
2012
Time:8:15 am - 5:00 pm
Location:Room F - San Diego Marriott Marquis Hotel and Marina
Presenters
Mark Sigman, M.D. (Chair), Brown University
Peter N. Schlegel, M.D., Cornell University
Peter T.K. Chan, M.D., McGill University Health Center
Philip S. Li, M.D., Weill Cornell Medical College
Supporters
Developed in Cooperation with the Society of Reproductive Surgeons
ACGME COMPETENCY
Patient Care
NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND COURSE DESCRIPTION
While male infertility surgical procedures require microsurgical skills, many practicing urologists have not had microsurgical training. In addition, even surgeons comfortable with microsurgery have no mechanism to learn newer microsurgical techniques. Although simple techniques such as testicular biopsy are learned during residency, many clinicians have had no formal training in more advanced techniques, such as sperm retrieval. In addition, because of the variety of available sperm retrieval techniques, many clinicians are unclear about the indications for particular techniques. This often arises because of confusion between obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia. The American Urological Association has realized the need for education about sperm retrieval techniques and has addressed this in the 2010 update to the Male Infertility best practice guidelines. Many techniques are described in didactic lectures, but there are no formal hands-on courses to watch and practice these procedures.
A hands-on course with actual animal testes offers the bridge between didactic learning and actual competent practice for urologic surgeons. This course will give participants the ability to learn basic microsurgical skills and practice actual microsurgical sperm retrieval techniques on animal testes. The faculty will demonstrate and then assist attendees learning these procedures. While didactic lectures will improve attendee knowledge, the hands-on components will directly lead to improvement in skills.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After participating in this course, participants should be able to:
- List the indications for individual sperm retrieval techniques.
- Demonstrate the use of the operating microscope.
- Perform testicular sperm retrieval, microsurgical testicular sperm retrieval, testicular sperm aspiration.