Report on Hugh Greenwood Neonatal Skills Course COSECSA Maputo, 4 December 2017

Introduction

This is the 3rd of the above course run by invitation from COSECSA council. The first in Ethiopia 2012, Malawi 2016 and now Mozambique 2017. We thank the Mozambique organising committee for the invitation and facilitating in the smooth running of the course.

Faculty:

• Merrill Mc Honey (lead)
• Haitham Dagash (lead)
• Niyi Ade-Ajayi
• Ashish Minocha
• Kokila Lakhoo (co-ordinator)
• Vanda Amado (local co-ordinator)

Participants:

We had 22 participants of which 4 were paediatric surgery trainees, 3 were paediatric trainees and the rest adult General surgery trainees from the outer region and within Maputo. We were graced by the presence of the Father of Paediatric surgery of Mozambique for the entire duration of the course

Venue:

The venue was in the children’s hospital and was ideal with enough space for 25 participants, air conditioned, enough instruments, suture material and other requirements such as catheters, syringes etc.We had an adjacent room with a fridge- freezer to touch up on the prepared models before a session.

Course content:

We covered four conditions with skill stations namely neonatal bowel anastomosis, duodenal atresia bowel discrepancy diamond anastomosis, neonatal gastrostomy and a tracheo-oesophageal fistula and oesophageal atresia model for anastomosis with discrepancy and under tension. We had active participation from the attendees with relevant questions to the surgical models and operating techniques relating to the models. Alternate and variation in techniques were practised on the models and pitfalls and morbidities were highlighted in relation to the subject matter.

Feedback:

All the participants enjoyed the course and would prefer a 2 day course with additional models. They would like video demonstrations and a manual or video to take home. The paediatric surgery trainees felt that they learnt more about tissue handling and pitfalls. The paediatric trainees learnt and better understood the post operative notes and surgical instructions. The paediatric trainees felt that their understanding of surgical patients have improved and they felt confident in doing some minor suturing and drain care. The major benefit was to the adult surgeons who felt that they learnt about surgery in children,refining techniques, tissue handling and instrument choice. 2 participants were adult thoracic surgery trainees and thoroughly enjoyed the TOF OA model. The adult General surgery trainees further felt that they would no longer be terrified in managing a surgical child.

Debrief:

The faculty were satisfied with the days events. The course structure and breaks went well. The material was satisfactory with the TOF model needing some improvement. COSECSA executive, head of surgery ,head of paediatric and a visiting American paediatric surgeon visited the course and provided extremely positive feedback. Our hope is COSECSA will adopt this course and run it independent of high income country input.

Report repared by

Kokila Lakhoo
IAC Chair
British Association of Paediatric Surgeons
10/12/17