Royal North Shore Hospital · SERT Institute · Second Edition, 2026

ENT Emergency Surgery
Refresher Course.

A cadaveric dissection course and handbook for practising ENT surgeons who cover emergency on-call — the only course of its kind in Australia and New Zealand.

Date
Sat 5 September 2026
Venue
Sydney Surgical Skills Centre
Duration
7 hours · single day
Accreditation
RACS Accredited · 7 hrs CPD
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“Each pair of surgeons will dissect four necks, four noses, four eyes and four mastoids in seven hours.”
RNSH Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery
Course Overview

Fast-paced, hands-on, single day.

The RNSH ENT Emergency Surgery Refresher Course is the only cadaveric dissection course of its kind in Australia and New Zealand specifically designed for practising ENT surgeons and senior trainees who cover emergency on-call. Each pair of surgeons dissects four necks, four noses, four eyes and four mastoids across seven hours, with expert guidance from the RNSH faculty throughout.

01
Identify and access the major deep neck spaces relevant to infection and trauma through the correct surgical approach.
05
Perform a lateral canthotomy and cantholysis with confidence.
02
Perform an emergency neck exploration for penetrating trauma, including proximal and distal vascular control.
06
Understand the indications for and approach to emergency orbital decompression.
03
Execute a surgical cricothyroidotomy and an emergency tracheostomy.
07
Perform a safe cortical mastoidectomy for acute mastoid emergencies, including identification of the tegmen, sigmoid sinus and antrum.
04
Perform endoscopic sphenopalatine artery ligation and external anterior and posterior ethmoid artery ligation.
08
Apply clinical decision frameworks for each emergency scenario, including escalation to subspecialty colleagues.
7
Hours CPD

This course is accredited by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) for 7 hours of Continuing Professional Development. Attendance certificates are issued at the conclusion of the day.

Curriculum

What's covered on the day.

Four parts, structured around real on-call scenarios — each combining anatomy, operative technique, decision frameworks and escalation guidance.

Part 1

Head & Neck

  • 1.1Deep neck space anatomy & infection
  • 1.2Incision selection — decision tree
  • 1.3Neck trauma — exploration & vessel control
  • 1.4Emergency airway — cricothyroidotomy
  • 1.5Tracheostomy

Part 2

Rhinological

  • 2.1Posterior epistaxis — management ladder
  • 2.2Sphenopalatine artery ligation
  • 2.3Anterior & posterior ethmoid artery ligation

Part 3

Orbital

  • 3.1Orbital compartment syndrome
  • 3.2Lateral canthotomy & cantholysis
  • 3.3Orbital decompression

Part 4

Ear

  • 4.1Cortical mastoidectomy
Faculty

Our faculty.

RNSH consultants and Dr Catherine Banks, our guest from Prince of Wales Hospital, teach across the four dissection stations. Each pair of dissectors is supervised throughout the day. Held under the auspices of the SERT Institute, Royal North Shore Hospital.

Clinical Prof. Nirmal Patel
Clinical Prof. Nirmal Patel
Course Director · Otology & Neurotology
Clinical A/Prof. Nicholas Jufas
Clinical A/Prof. Nicholas Jufas
Course Director · Otology & Neurotology
Dr. Martin Forer
Dr. Martin Forer
Rhinology
Clinical A/Prof. David Veivers
Clinical A/Prof. David Veivers
Head & Neck
Dr. Andrew Wignall
Dr. Andrew Wignall
Head & Neck
Dr. Leo Pang
Dr. Leo Pang
Head & Neck
Dr. Justin Kong
Dr. Justin Kong
Rhinology
Dr. Leba Sarkis
Dr. Leba Sarkis
Head & Neck
Dr. Peter Ryan
Dr. Peter Ryan
Head & Neck
Dr. Catherine Banks
Dr. Catherine Banks
Rhinology · Guest, Prince of Wales Hospital
Course Timetable

Saturday 5 September 2026.

All sessions on Level 6, Kolling Building. Groups A and B rotate during the morning and afternoon sessions — each pair of dissectors shares two fresh cadaver specimens for the full day.

TimeSessionGroup
07:30 – 08:00Coffee, tea & breakfast · RegistrationAll
08:00 – 09:00Lectures & demonstrations — emergency ENT operations (Ear: cortical mastoidectomy · Nose: lateral canthotomy, external AEA ligation, orbital decompression, SPA ligation · Neck: surgical approaches for trauma and infection)All
09:00 – 10:30Dissection 1A — Ear & Nose
B — Neck
10:30Morning tea & group switchAll
10:30 – 12:00Dissection 2A — Neck
B — Ear & Nose
12:00 – 13:00Lunch & group photoAll
13:00 – 14:30Dissection 3A — Ear & Nose
B — Neck
14:30Afternoon tea & group switchAll
14:30 – 16:00Dissection 4A — Neck
B — Ear & Nose
16:00Concluding remarksAll
Stations
4 per participant pair
Specimens
2 fresh cadavers per pair
Dissection time
6 hours at the table
From Past Participants

What surgeons say.

“

The fact that we had 2 specimens to dissect was a huge bonus.

“

Very practical for the working ENT surgeon.

“

Excellent course which satisfied my needs and I will recommend to colleagues as a refresher.

Venue

Sydney Surgical Skills Centre.

  • LocationKolling Building, Level 6
  • CampusRoyal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards
  • FacilityUniversity of Sydney Skills Simulation Centre
  • DateSaturday 5 September 2026
  • Time07:30 – 16:00

Held under the auspices of

The SERT Institute, Royal North Shore Hospital — supporting surgical education, research and training across Northern Sydney Local Health District.

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Sponsors & Acknowledgements

With thanks to our sponsors.

The RNSH ENT Emergency Surgery Refresher Course is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors. We are grateful for their commitment to surgical education and training in Australia and New Zealand.

Places are limited.

A strict dissector limit applies to preserve small-group supervision at every station. Register now to secure your place on 5 September 2026.

Register Now