Dear Dr. Mondestin, Dr. Eustache, Msgrs. Chadic and Harris, Pere Roland,

Dear Dr. Mondestin, Dr. Eustache, Msgrs. Chadic and Harris, Pere Roland,
Team Report
March 16 – 28, 2018
Minimally Invasive Surgery Course
Hopital de Bienfaisance
Pignon, Haiti
Faculty:
Paul Severson, MD, FACS, Founder MIMIS
Andrew Loveitt, DO, Fellow MIMIS
Garald Jean-Louis, MD, GynEndo Haiti
Valerio Vital-Herne, MD, GynEndo Haiti
Sylvio Augustin, MD, HUEH
Mike Evans, Telecommunications Expert
Ron Vitales, Inanimate Skill Lab Director
Project Haiti Team:
Marlee Novak, Medical student, Team Coordinator, Skill Lab Assistant
Chad Riddle, Nurse Assistant
Joseph Vitales, Team Assistant
Attendees:
14 Surgeons, including 3 staff surgeons and 11 residents.
Seven were General surgeons and seven were OB/Gyn physicians
HUEH had 3 general residents and 2 OB/Gyn residents
Le Paix had 1 staff general surgeon, 2 general residents, and 2 OB/Gyn residents
Chancerelle had 2 OB/Gyn residents
Pignon had 1 staff general surgeon and 1 staff OB/Gyn
Course sponsor: Project Haiti, Inc. We acknowledge this course is made possible through the generous donations of Cuyuna Regional Medical Center, Crosby, MN and Riverwood Healthcare Center, Aitkin, MN.
The Laparoscopy Course included lectures, inanimate skills laboratory, and live surgery over 4 days.
Monday, March 19 through Thursday, March 22
Lecture content included the history of surgical innovation and teaching at Hopital de Bienfaisance, history of laparoscopic surgery globally, safe and effective use of laparoscopic instrumentation, a variety of general and gynecological surgical procedure lectures utilizing minimally invasive techniques delivered by all members of the Haitian and American faculty, and 2 new SAGES lectures on the Fundamentals Use of Surgical Energy (FUSE), given in both French and English. Flash drives containing all lecture materials were provided to each student.
New iPad-based trainers were implemented successfully in the Inanimate Skills Laboratory. The SAGES Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) program was utilized as the basis for the lab. An ultrasonic energy lab was also conducted, which provided hands-on experience for all students with this newer technology. The annual Endo Olympics competition was held with spirited camaraderie among the participants.
Surgeries included 7 lap choles, 2 laparoscopic Toupet fundoplications, and 4 diagnostic laps with surgical intervention for infertility. The last 2 lap choles were conducted with 100% Haitian staff, including Dr. Sylvio Augustin as the lead surgeon, 2 residents assisting, along with anesthesia and a surgical tech. The last procedure was completed utilizing the ultrasonic energy device exclusively, marking a new first for the Haitian staff.
At the end of the week a rooftop graduation celebration was held at the Minnesota Dorm with a traditional Haitian feast and recognition for all participants and the esteemed Endo Olympic medal winners. Dr. Guy Theodore was in attendance and provided closing remarks at the celebration.
Hopital Saint Francois de Sales – March 26 and 27, 2018
Dr. Paul Severson and Dr. Andrew Loveitt joined Dr. Sylvio Jr. Augustin and performed 3 laparoscopic cholecystectomies, utilizing the laparoscopic equipment donated to the hospital by Project Haiti in 2017. The cases were performed skillfully by Dr. Sylvio Augustin as the primary surgeon and we found the equipment well cared for and in excellent working condition. We were greeted by urologists Drs. Bernard Brutus and Youry Dreux, who were performing surgery for stone patients in the next room.
Hopital L’Universitaire La Paix – March 28, 2018
Dr. Paul Severson and Dr. Andrew Loveitt were invited to meet the residents and faculty at La Paix, and were picked up the Le Plaza and escorted by the Chief of Surgery Dr. Nesly Vastey to Hopital L’Universitaire La Paix. All the residents and some of the faculty gathered to meet us and after bilateral speeches, we evaluated the existing laparoscopic equipment and then toured the facility, including the operating rooms. There may be 2 surgeon champions at that residency program, one general surgeon that attended our course in Pignon, and also a pediatric surgeon with some prior laparoscopic experience in his fellowship. We made plans to invite both faculty and residents at our next course, and will consider developing another laparoscopic site there in the future.