The interactive three-day Hostile Environment Surgical Training (HEST) course teaches the essential surgical decision-making strategies and techniques for surgeons working in austere conditions. The HEST course covers penetrating and crushing injuries as well as the management of trauma of the limbs, head, thorax and torso. A further focus is on post-disaster and conflict procedures including skin flaps, grafts, and the management of orthopaedic fractures using external fixation and traction. Our expert faculty will share hands-on experience gained through their work in places such as Afghanistan, Darfur and Haiti. The teaching is lecture and discussion based with a practical element provided by the Foundation’s bespoke simulator model. Made from modern synthetic materials, the simulator will make scenarios and operations memorable so they will be recalled by the surgeons in real-life situations and they will perform the correct, life-saving operation.   ​

Students will learn to:

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• Make resource based triage decisions.
• Perform a range of specialised surgical procedures, including management of paediatric injuries, trauma and neck injuries.
• Describe issues and challenges facing surgeons and other medical specialities in austere environments.
• Manage obstetric and gynaecological emergencies including understanding when and how safely perform caesarean section

SPEAKERS

• David Nott (OBE, FRCS)
• Harald Veen (FRCS/Ed)
• Carlos Pilasi Menichetti (MD, MSc)

 

About the David Nott Foundation

​ The David Nott Foundation provides surgeons and medical professionals with the skills they need to provide relief and assistance in conflict and natural disaster zones around the world. Founded and led by renowned British surgeon David Nott, the Foundation benefits from his passion for advancing the best in surgical research, practice and teaching as well as his commitment to helping vulnerable people in some of the most dangerous and disadvantaged places in the world. ​ For the past twenty years, David has practised surgery in Bosnia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Liberia, Chad, Ivory Coast, Libya, Sierra Leone, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Haiti. ​ Often operating with the constraints of minimal equipment and basic facilities, David wants to pass on his experience of providing practical training in acute trauma surgery, general surgery, orthopaedic surgery, obstetrics, gynaecology and paediatric surgery directly to local medical, paramedical and nursing staff working in austere environments around the world.