It is essential to master basic laparoscopic skills before performing laparoscopic surgeries in the operating room. To address this requirement, a safe simulation environment is ideal. The Amsterdam UMC has offered the Basic Laparoscopy Course for over 20 years, providing participants with essential laparoscopic skills using state-of-the-art techniques and facilities at the Amsterdam Skills Centre. This cross-disciplinary training is aimed at residents from various surgical subspecialties, as well as theatre nurses.

The course comprises two parts: home training with a laparoscopic box trainer offering real-time objective feedback, and a hands-on day where participants apply their acquired skills in performing laparoscopic appendectomy and cholecystectomy.

Trainees receive real-time feedback on force (tissue manipulation), movement (efficient maneuvering), and time (efficient and goal-oriented actions) from the laparoscopic box trainer. The goal is to develop fundamental laparoscopic technical skills, including eye-hand coordination, depth perception, bimanual dexterity, and tissue manipulation.

On the multidisciplinary hands-on day, trainees perform a laparoscopic appendectomy and cholecystectomy under the supervision of experienced laparoscopic experts. The course also includes multidisciplinary teamwork and communication training, with procedures conducted in collaboration with theatre nurses. This approach allows participants to develop essential technical and non-technical skills in a safe simulation environment early in their training.