Tech Coloproctol (2014) 18:1141–1142 DOI 10.1007/s10151-014-1212-2
CONGRESS REPORT
The IXth Biennial Meeting of the Mediterranean Society of Coloproctology, May 22–23, 2014 G. Tsoulfas • M. G. Pramateftakis
Published online: 25 September 2014 Ó Springer-Verlag Italia Srl 2014
The IXth Biennial Meeting of the Mediterranean Society of Coloproctology (MSCP) took place in Sottomarina di Chioggia in Italy, on May 22–23, 2014. Surgeons from the whole Mediterranean region, experts in the field of coloproctology, came together in beautiful Marina di Chioggia, one of the best kept secrets in Italy. The picturesque tourist destination, known as ‘‘little Venice’’, with its rich historical background, the lovely weather, and the modern infrastructure, made this meeting a truly memorable one. Cutting-edge science was presented by world’s leading experts on the background of this little Italian paradise. This was all made possible by the excellent, tireless planning of Congress Presidents, Dr. Salvatore Ramuscello and Dr. Maurizio Rizzo. Their efforts to make everybody feel at home were truly an example of the rich tradition of Italian hospitality (Fig. 1). But there was also work to be done, and that was the best part of the meeting. The scientific program consisted of a combination of presentations of controversial clinical cases and lectures with an opportunity for very lively and passionate (after all it is the Mediterranean Society) discussions among experts in the field. The proctology, pelvic floor disease, and rectal cancer were discussed in detail, presenting a mix of experience and surgical innovation. The congress began in the evening of May 22 with an enlarged meeting of the Executive Council of the MSCP. Under the guidance of the MSCP President, Professor
G. Tsoulfas (&) First Surgical Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54622 Thessaloniki, Greece e-mail: [email protected] M. G. Pramateftakis Department of Surgery, Ealing Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK
Devesa, and with the unlimited energy of Honorary President Professor Pescatori, the Executive Council was able to plot a course for the future, undertaking a significant number of educational and training activities, with the active participation of all its members, in what are undoubtedly very difficult times. The main (scientific) course was, however, on the next day. There were presentations of interesting and controversial cases, including an unusual presentation of a meningocoele and another one of a pelvic floor teratoma (both by Professor Ravo), as well as a case of rectal duplication in an adult (presented by Drs Stotl and Kosorok from Slovenia), another one of dyssynergia and rectocele (presented by Professor Puccciani) and a challenging hemorrhoidopexy (by Professor Zaffin). All these cases had two things in common: difficult decisions that surgeons often have to make and a level of surgical artistry that is a mark of excellence. The lectures addressed a variety of topics, including the challenge posed by obstructed defecation, where we had the chance to enjoy Professor Pescatori’s wisdom and experience, combined with a presentation of novel treatments. Speaking of novel treatments, Professor A. Shafik delivered a lively lecture on the current status of NOTES in colorectal surgery. The topic of mucosal prolapse and the different innovative ways of managing it were presented by Dr. Boffi, leading to a very interesting debate regarding the personal preferences of experts in the field and the advantages and disadvantages of each. There were also lectures on issues indirectly related to coloproctology, such as the one regarding the management of synchronous hepatic metastatic disease (by Dr. Tsoulfas), which underlined the importance of cooperation between the colorectal and the hepatobiliary surgeon and the multidisciplinary approach. Additionally, Dr. Massani delivered a very informative lecture on new modalities used in the management of pain caused by surgical wounds.
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Tech Coloproctol (2014) 18:1141–1142
Fig. 1 The MSCP family, old and new friends, enjoying the warm hospitality of beautiful Chioggia
No MSCP meeting would be completed without discussing the complex topics of fistula management and rectal cancer. On the issue of fistula management, Professor El-Sibai presented the vast experience of the Ahmed Shafik hospital in partial fistulectomy and electrocauterization of the intersphincteric tract in the treatment of complex anal fistula, whereas Dr. Leoni dealt with the problem of horseshoe fistula and the difficulties involved in its diagnosis and management. In one of the more interesting talks, Dr. Pramateftakis presented his experience of using intraoperative MRI-guided ‘‘road mapping’’ for complex fistula surgery, an innovation that may well change the management of these cases, whereas Dr. Crescenti presented data on high transsphincteric and low rectovaginal fistulas, while advocating the creation of an MSCP-sponsored registry, so that the collective experience can be documented. When discussing anal fistulas, the mind often goes to Crohn’s disease, which was the topic of Professor Zmora’s lecture on contemporary surgical treatment of fistulizing Crohn’s disease, a topic of great interest for every practicing colorectal, as well as general surgeon. The session on rectal cancer was a veritable tour de force, with an emphasis on sphincter-sparing operations, as
123
presented by Professor Pucciani, and the alternatives of laparoscopic intersphincteric resection for low rectal cancer (by Professor Delgadillo and his group) and the use of transanal endoscopic microsurgery by Dr. Scepanovic. Additionally, Dr. Raptis presented his work on right hemicolectomy with complete mesocolic excision for colon carcinoma. There are several surgeons who advocate for this technique because of its promising oncologic results. Regarding the sharing of knowledge and experience, Professor Zbar presented the publishing company he recently founded, Pertinax-Publishing, and described its potential advantages for colorectal surgeons. At the end of the meeting, the plans for the MSCP rendezvous in Cairo in 2016 were reconfirmed. Overall, the meeting was a true success, because of the excellent organization, the magnificent setting, and most importantly, the very high quality of the scientific content which was the result of having a group of worldwide leaders in the field of coloproctology together in one location, where they were able to discuss, debate, and argue the current challenging issues in the field. Chioggia, grazie mille!
CONGRESS REPORT
The IXth Biennial Meeting of the Mediterranean Society of Coloproctology, May 22–23, 2014 G. Tsoulfas • M. G. Pramateftakis
Published online: 25 September 2014 Ó Springer-Verlag Italia Srl 2014
The IXth Biennial Meeting of the Mediterranean Society of Coloproctology (MSCP) took place in Sottomarina di Chioggia in Italy, on May 22–23, 2014. Surgeons from the whole Mediterranean region, experts in the field of coloproctology, came together in beautiful Marina di Chioggia, one of the best kept secrets in Italy. The picturesque tourist destination, known as ‘‘little Venice’’, with its rich historical background, the lovely weather, and the modern infrastructure, made this meeting a truly memorable one. Cutting-edge science was presented by world’s leading experts on the background of this little Italian paradise. This was all made possible by the excellent, tireless planning of Congress Presidents, Dr. Salvatore Ramuscello and Dr. Maurizio Rizzo. Their efforts to make everybody feel at home were truly an example of the rich tradition of Italian hospitality (Fig. 1). But there was also work to be done, and that was the best part of the meeting. The scientific program consisted of a combination of presentations of controversial clinical cases and lectures with an opportunity for very lively and passionate (after all it is the Mediterranean Society) discussions among experts in the field. The proctology, pelvic floor disease, and rectal cancer were discussed in detail, presenting a mix of experience and surgical innovation. The congress began in the evening of May 22 with an enlarged meeting of the Executive Council of the MSCP. Under the guidance of the MSCP President, Professor
G. Tsoulfas (&) First Surgical Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54622 Thessaloniki, Greece e-mail: [email protected] M. G. Pramateftakis Department of Surgery, Ealing Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK
Devesa, and with the unlimited energy of Honorary President Professor Pescatori, the Executive Council was able to plot a course for the future, undertaking a significant number of educational and training activities, with the active participation of all its members, in what are undoubtedly very difficult times. The main (scientific) course was, however, on the next day. There were presentations of interesting and controversial cases, including an unusual presentation of a meningocoele and another one of a pelvic floor teratoma (both by Professor Ravo), as well as a case of rectal duplication in an adult (presented by Drs Stotl and Kosorok from Slovenia), another one of dyssynergia and rectocele (presented by Professor Puccciani) and a challenging hemorrhoidopexy (by Professor Zaffin). All these cases had two things in common: difficult decisions that surgeons often have to make and a level of surgical artistry that is a mark of excellence. The lectures addressed a variety of topics, including the challenge posed by obstructed defecation, where we had the chance to enjoy Professor Pescatori’s wisdom and experience, combined with a presentation of novel treatments. Speaking of novel treatments, Professor A. Shafik delivered a lively lecture on the current status of NOTES in colorectal surgery. The topic of mucosal prolapse and the different innovative ways of managing it were presented by Dr. Boffi, leading to a very interesting debate regarding the personal preferences of experts in the field and the advantages and disadvantages of each. There were also lectures on issues indirectly related to coloproctology, such as the one regarding the management of synchronous hepatic metastatic disease (by Dr. Tsoulfas), which underlined the importance of cooperation between the colorectal and the hepatobiliary surgeon and the multidisciplinary approach. Additionally, Dr. Massani delivered a very informative lecture on new modalities used in the management of pain caused by surgical wounds.
123
1142
Tech Coloproctol (2014) 18:1141–1142
Fig. 1 The MSCP family, old and new friends, enjoying the warm hospitality of beautiful Chioggia
No MSCP meeting would be completed without discussing the complex topics of fistula management and rectal cancer. On the issue of fistula management, Professor El-Sibai presented the vast experience of the Ahmed Shafik hospital in partial fistulectomy and electrocauterization of the intersphincteric tract in the treatment of complex anal fistula, whereas Dr. Leoni dealt with the problem of horseshoe fistula and the difficulties involved in its diagnosis and management. In one of the more interesting talks, Dr. Pramateftakis presented his experience of using intraoperative MRI-guided ‘‘road mapping’’ for complex fistula surgery, an innovation that may well change the management of these cases, whereas Dr. Crescenti presented data on high transsphincteric and low rectovaginal fistulas, while advocating the creation of an MSCP-sponsored registry, so that the collective experience can be documented. When discussing anal fistulas, the mind often goes to Crohn’s disease, which was the topic of Professor Zmora’s lecture on contemporary surgical treatment of fistulizing Crohn’s disease, a topic of great interest for every practicing colorectal, as well as general surgeon. The session on rectal cancer was a veritable tour de force, with an emphasis on sphincter-sparing operations, as
123
presented by Professor Pucciani, and the alternatives of laparoscopic intersphincteric resection for low rectal cancer (by Professor Delgadillo and his group) and the use of transanal endoscopic microsurgery by Dr. Scepanovic. Additionally, Dr. Raptis presented his work on right hemicolectomy with complete mesocolic excision for colon carcinoma. There are several surgeons who advocate for this technique because of its promising oncologic results. Regarding the sharing of knowledge and experience, Professor Zbar presented the publishing company he recently founded, Pertinax-Publishing, and described its potential advantages for colorectal surgeons. At the end of the meeting, the plans for the MSCP rendezvous in Cairo in 2016 were reconfirmed. Overall, the meeting was a true success, because of the excellent organization, the magnificent setting, and most importantly, the very high quality of the scientific content which was the result of having a group of worldwide leaders in the field of coloproctology together in one location, where they were able to discuss, debate, and argue the current challenging issues in the field. Chioggia, grazie mille!
