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Department of Surgery Department of Surgery
  1. Department of Surgery
  2. Divisions
  3. Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, Burns & Acute Care Surgery
  4. Training & Education
  5. Courses

Courses

The Division of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, Burns and Acute Care Surgery is pleased to offer a number of courses designed to improve the skills of surgeons, allied physicians, and other providers.

Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma (ASSET)

The ASSET course uses human cadavers to teach surgical exposure of anatomic structures that when injured may pose a threat to life or limb. It is excellent progression from the ATOM course.

Advanced Trauma Life Support ® (ATLS ®)

The Advanced Trauma Life Support® (ATLS®) program can teach you a systematic, concise approach to the care of a trauma patient. ATLS was developed by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Trauma (COT) and was first introduced in the US and abroad in 1980. Its courses provide you with a safe and reliable method for immediate management of injured patients. The course teaches you how to assess a patient's condition, resuscitate and stabilize him or her, and determine if his or her needs exceed a facility's capacity. It also covers how to arrange for a patient's inter-hospital transfer and assure that optimum care is provided throughout the process.

Advanced Trauma Operative Management (ATOM)

The UC San Diego Division of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, Burns and Acute Care Surgery is the first West Coast institution to offer the American College of Surgeons Advanced Trauma Operative Management (ATOM) course. ATOM is an effective method of increasing surgical competence and confidence in the operative management of penetrating injuries to the chest and abdomen. The course consists of six 30-minute lectures followed by a three-hour lab session during which the participant manages 12 different injuries.

Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Preparedness (DMEP) ​

The Disaster Management & Emergency Preparedness course (DMEP) emphasizes an all-hazards approach, demonstrating that many principles apply to disasters of all kinds, regardless of specific mechanism. Surgical problems and the role of surgeons in disasters are emphasized, even with nonsurgical forms of injury.

Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) Central Line

Central Line Insertion Blood Stream Infections (CLABSI) are a preventable complication in almost all patients. Careful insertion technique, use of ultrasound guidance and proper line care have been shown to reduce the incidence of CLABSI and other line complications in ICUs.

Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta (REBOA) and Temporary IVC Filter Course

The REBOA and Temporary IVC Filter Course is designed for general surgeons to learn indications and techniques for REBOA and temporary IVC filter placement. The course consists of two 30-minute lectures followed by 5 lab sessions during which the participants will place REBOA and Temporary IVC Gillen catheters.