The British Association of Urological Surgeons: guidelines for training in laparoscopy

OBJECTIVE: To report the guidelines of the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS), commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in response to safety concerns about the rapid uptake of new, complex laparoscopic procedures. METHODS: A combination of expert opinion and review of published studies was used to produce a consensus document. RESULTS: Patient demand and excellent published reports have prompted many consultant urologists with little previous laparoscopic training to learn laparoscopic procedures. Laparoscopic urological surgery involves some of the most complex procedures in all of surgery and there has been a lack of formal training for consultants. The guidelines produced by BAUS are designed to help consultant urologists gain experience safely, by a combination of didactic learning and mentorship. We recommend that urologists work with a mentor and master ablative laparoscopic surgery before attempting more complex procedures such as prostatectomy, cystectomy, pyeloplasty and partial nephrectomy. These guidelines were approved by BAUS Council in October 2006. CONCLUSIONS: These guidelines are intended to be complementary to the NICE guidelines on specific procedures (available at http://www.nice.org.uk).