The Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery Program (FLS) is a comprehensive cognitive and technical skills education program designed for surgical residents and practicing surgeons who perform laparoscopic surgery.
The program is used to teach and assess cognitive and technical skills that are fundamental to performing basic laparoscopic surgery safely. FLS certification is a requirement by the American Board of Surgery for General Surgery Board certification.
The test consists of two components, a 75-question multiple choice exam that is taken in conjunction with 5 pre-determined technical skills task utilizing the FLS Trainer Box. The tasks include peg transfer, pattern cutting, endoloop, extracorporeal suturing and intracorporeal suturing.
The goals of the FLS program include 1) providing surgical residents and practicing surgeons a standardized, validated curriculum that provide the cognitive and technical skills necessary to safely perform basic laparoscopic surgery; and 2) to improve the safety of patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery.
The Augusta University, Department of Surgery's Virtual Education and Surgical Simulation Lab (VESSL) is proud to announce that FLS resources (FLS box trainer and CD-ROM study guides) are available for surgical residents and practicing surgeons to become proficient in FLS. The Virtual Education and Surgical Simulation Lab will be a future FLS Testing Center.
For information regarding FLS training resources at the Augusta University, please contact our VESSL Coordinator.
VESSL Coordinator
Dr. Bao-Ling Adam
Phone: 706-721-4202
Email: badam@augusta.edu
For detailed information on the FLS program developed by SAGES (Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons) please visit their website or email them at fls@sages.org.
SAGES/FLS Program
11300 W. Olympic Blvd, Suite 600,
Los Angeles, CA, 90064
Phone: 310 437 0544
