FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS THE "HOLIOTOMY™ CHALLENGE"?
WHAT IS THE "HOLIOTOMY™ RODEO"?
WHY DO YOU RECOMMEND WE ATTEND WITH OUR SURGICAL PARTNER(S)?
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE COST OF THE COURSE?
WHAT ARE ACCOMODATIONS LIKE AT THE HOTEL?
WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE IN SAN FRANCISCO?
WHY ATTEND THE LIGO COURSE?
LIGO brings nationally recognized faculty to the course full-time for all days. Our faculty are present for the entire course, precepting at the pelvic trainers at every break and during lunchtimes, always available to attendees to teach suturing, knots, standards of care and laparoscopic excellence. Other courses have faculty drop in for their talks and disappear.
LIGO provides for 40+ pelvic trainers to be assigned to attendees so that every attendee has precepted individually assigned sessions using evidence-based proven methods to establish technique and to confirm stability of learning over time. Pelvic trainers are available to attendees who stay in the hotel throughout the LIGO course. Over night security is provided in the rooms where the trainers are located, and these rooms are open to course attendees after the end of the didactic sessions, except for the last day of the course. Our Audio Visual is excellent, with the largest screens available.
WHAT IS THE "HOLIOTOMY™ CHALLENGE"?
The "holiotomy™" is a two inch segment of Penrose drain with six dots on each side of the tubing with a one inch hole in the middle. Surgeons are challenged to place three figure of "N"s through each of the dots and to tie each of these with four square knots to close the hole. We call this a "holiotomy™", in jest, but the process of suturing the "holiotomy™" enhances eye-hand coordination and haptic perception and simulates the essential procedures every laparoscopic surgeon needs: closure of cystotomy or enterotomy or closure of the vagina after total laparoscopic hysterectomy.
Surgeons are asked to perform three "holiotomies™" (6 figure of "N"'s with 24 knots on two "holiotomies™" and one "run the cuff" advanced on the third "holiotomy™") as evidence of their developing laparoscopic skills. This challenge is made easy by the three lectures on suture techniques, the two precepted suture sessions and the 40 pelvic trainers available to you during unrestricted breaks. See photographs of the "holiotomy™" and the "Holiotomy™ Challenge" from the 2010 course here: 2010 PHOTO GALLERY.
WHAT IS THE "HOLIOTOMY™ RODEO"?
Throughout the course, attendees are grouped in teams with assigned faculty members, who precept at the pelvic trainers during scheduled practice suture sessions. After the first day of basic suture training, surgeons are invited to participate in a fun, light-hearted and instructive competition. Faculty teams are pitted against each other in a Holiotomy suturing rodeo. Great food and drinks are served, and families, including children, are welcome to attend.
WHY DO YOU RECOMMEND WE ATTEND WITH OUR SURGICAL PARTNER(S)?
All learning takes place gradually. No one takes away 100% of what they hear. What you and your surgery partner(s) learn from the course will not exactly overlap. You and your partner(s) will hear things differently, retain different facts and prefer divergent techniques, giving you each a greater surgical repertoire. By attending together, you will increase the total learning you take back to your operating room and to your patients.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE COST OF THE COURSE?
You will receive an electronic course syllabus on a thumb drive with great surgical videos and other valuable information. We provide plentiful and heart-healthy meals throughout the course, as follows: Breakfast, lunch and morning and afternoon snacks on all days.
WHAT ARE ACCOMODATIONS LIKE AT THE HOTEL?
LIGO Spring Course at The Palace Hotel
The Palace Hotel re-opened its doors, completely rebuilt after the devastation of the 1906 earthquake of San Francisco, on December 15, 1909. It has remained the landmark hotel in San Francisco with such timeless creations as The Garden Court's stained glass dome with Austrian crystal chandeliers and the 1909 Maxfield Parrish mural of "The Pied Piper of Hamlin" located in the Pied Piper Bar. LIGO has contracted excellent room rates for you, and the food is plentiful, delicious and cardiac wise. The Palace Hotel is centrally located in the heart of the San Francisco, just blocks away from Chinatown and the Financial District and is a short walk from the fine shops, theaters and restaurants at Union Square. The Concierge is available to help you with dinner reservations and other plans you or your family may want to make to enjoy San Francisco and the greater Bay Area. Please visit the hotel website to learn more: www.sfpalace.com/
LIGO Fall Course at the Hotel Nikko
We have held this courses at Hotel Nikko for four years because they offer the best service, food and value to our attendees. We have contracted excellent room rates for you, and the food is plentiful, delicious and cardiac wise. Ideally located in the very heart of the city, Hotel Nikko is a short walk from the fine shops, theaters and restaurants at Union Square. The Concierge at the Hotel Nikko is available to help you with dinner reservations and other plans you or your family may want to make to enjoy San Francisco and the greater Bay Area. Please visit the hotel website to learn more: www.hotelnikkosf.com.
WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE IN SAN FRANCISCO?
LIGO Spring Course at The Palace Hotel
Attendees will spend most of their time indoors! Please bring a sweater or jacket to the Gold Ballroom classroom, so you will always be comfortable. When you do get outside, the weather in April is generally mild and sunny. Day time temperatures average in the high 60's to low 70's. Rain is rare in April. Dressing in layers is best. Check here for current weather conditions and forecast: http://www.weather.com/weather/today/San+Francisco+CA+94105
LIGO Fall Course at the Hotel Nikko
Attendees will spend most of their time indoors! Please bring a sweater or jacket to the Nikko Ballroom classroom, so you will always be comfortable. When you do get outside, the weather in September/October is generally mild and sunny. Day time temperatures average in the mid 60's to low 70's. Rain is rare in October. Dressing in layers is best. Check here for current weather conditions and forecast: http://www.weather.com/weather/today/San+Francisco+CA+94102