ABSTRACT
As years of surgical training have evolved, multiple surgical mediums and techniques have been developed that have revolutionized the field of gynecologic oncology. Minimally invasive surgery has significantly changed the way surgeons care for patients, with the vast majority of gynecologic oncology patients receiving minimally invasive approaches to help manage complex gynecologic conditions. What have not changed through the years are the basic surgical principles that are needed to accomplish a surgical procedure safely. Halsted’s principles remain the tenets of surgical technique regarding tissue handling. The key points that Halsted illustrated in the nineteenth century that included gentle handling of tissue, meticulous hemostasis, preservation of blood supply, strict aseptic technique, minimum tension on tissues, accurate tissue apposition, and obliteration of dead space have been taught to every surgical trainee in one form or another for decades. What has changed over time is how those skills translate into minimally invasive surgical technique and how to appropriately teach and validate those skills in our trainees.
