Surgical Training in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan

Abstract

IntroductionSurgical trauma care on operations is delivered by consultants. The DMS presently delivers training to surgeons to enable them to deliver this care as newly-qualified consultants. Deploying as a trainee is one of many training evolutions available to achieve this competency. This paper describes the process involved in trainees deploying, and the training received by the first author (CAF) during a recent deployment.MethodsPre-deployment training and the process for gaining recognition of training time by the GMC are described. All surgical procedures performed by the first author were recorded prospectively, together with the level of supervision.ResultsThe first author performed 210 procedures in 124 operations on 87 patients in a seven week deployment. This was prospectively recognised for training by the GMC. All procedures were supervised by consultant trainers. Procedures included trauma surgical procedures and those under the specialties of Plastic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery and General Surgery.ConclusionsDeploying on operations as a trainee is invaluable in preparing DMS juniors for their future roles as consultants in the DMS. Training is received not only in a breadth of surgical and resuscitative procedures, beyond a trainee’s “base specialty”, but also in other critical aspects of deployments including Crew Resource Management.