Hands-on training to make the most of wetlabs

Wetlabs provide hands-on surgical training in a pressure-free environment. They are ideal for making inroads into new techniques, discovering new products, or learning to deal with complications. Unsurprisingly, wetlab courses remain immensely popular, and many of them sell out months in advance. To make sure you get the most out of your wetlab course, here are some do's and don'ts for wetlab participants.

DO:

• Locate the site of the wetlab well in advance.

• Ask questions. All the labs are staffed by knowledgeable surgeons who are ready to answer any queries you might have.

• Bring a notebook. The labs concentrate a lot of information into a short time. Jotting down notes as you go is a way to hold on to the crucial details.

• Be brave. Wetlabs are great for practising new techniques and managing complications, so don’t be timid.

• Ask for another eye, if necessary.

• Use your new skills. Do your best to use the skills you have learned as soon as you can when you return home, while they are still fresh in your mind.

DON’T:

• Miss the start of the lab. Many labs begin with a short introduction to cover the fundamental points. Miss this, and you may be one step behind for the rest of the session.

• Eat or drink during the lab. Leave the coffee until afterwards.

• Get frustrated. Most of these techniques will take a while to learn and even longer to master.

• Stay longer than your allotted time. Most labs have another lab straight after so if you stay longer it may deprive the next trainee of their time.

• Finally, don’t be disappointed if the wetlab you wanted to attend at the ESCRS Congress in Barcelona was booked out. The ESCRS is providing wetlabs during the 20th Winter Meeting in Athens, Greece, in February 2016, so book your next wetlab early!

Sorcha Ni Dhubhghaill is an anterior segment surgeon and guest lecturer at Antwerp University Hospital, Belgium