International experts on endoscopy meet in Hamburg

Following a record attendance at the 14th Endo Club Nord (ECN) congress last year, the 15th endoscopy congress took place from November 9th -10th 2007. The ECN training program is now world-renowned for its contributions to endoscopic developments. Throughout this year’s program the international audience was introduced to the latest endoscopic technologies and received several live broadcast demonstrations from three Hamburg endoscopy centres.

Endoscopy has bought significant developments in the field of medicine over recent decades. Endoscopic techniques have minimised the invasiveness of a range of technically difficult operations, revolutionised the surveillance of bowel cancer and provided new treatment options for a variety of previously incurable diseases. Some of the most recent innovations include high definition television (HDTV), narrow band imaging (NBI), endoscopic in-vivo microscopy, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of early carcinomas and self-propelling endoscopes. Rapid developments in this field necessitate a forum for specialists to remain updated with the latest technology and best endoscopic techniques.

The ENDO CLUB NORD was founded in 1991 and has won worldwide recognition for its contribution to patient care and endoscopy development. The meeting provides an excellent opportunity for international experts to exchange experiences and learn new techniques from colleagues and renowned lecturers. Each year, the meeting is held at the Congress Centrum Hamburg (CCH). Last years meeting attracted a record of over 2,700 delegates including specialists, doctors, registered nurses and students. This year’s meeting held in November had almost 3,000 attendees and proved to be equally innovative, informative and fascinating.

The two day program was largely practically orientated and consisted of a series of live endoscopic video broadcasts from the Altona and Barmbek Asklepios Hospitals and the Eppendorf University Hospital in Hamburg. For the first time these practical demonstrations were broadcasted in HDTV direct to the CCH as well as live to physicians in Greece, Portugal, Ireland and Australia. The practical demonstrations (accompanied by specialist comments) offered invaluable training experiences. One of the major highlights was the live transmission of a transgastric cholecystectomy which offered insight into the new N.O.T.E.S. concept of scarless surgery. Delegates were also guided through a variety of challenging case studies relevant to their daily practice and provided with opportunities to question their demonstrators. Featured below are just a few of the stimulating presentations broadcasted at this year’s congress.

The ECN program was also interspersed with several state-of-the-art lectures on the latest focal endoscopy topics. The controversial topics of "Barrett’s esophagus: killer or overkill?" and "Endoscope replaces microscope: when will biopsy become redundant?" stimulated dynamic feedback and discussions. For further information and highlights of the conference please refer to the following website – http://www.endoclubnord.de/index.php?hp=33&

This year’s ECN congress thus attracted experts from all over the globe and offered advanced and further training in the field of endoscopy. The several thousand attendees should now be equipped with knowledge of the latest technologies and scientific research in this field. Hopefully this should promote better endoscopic management of several diseases and lead to improved patient outcomes. Registration is now open for the 16th Endo Club Nord which is set to take place November 7th to 8th, 2008 at the Congress Center Hamburg.

Click here to watch a video of a Submocosal Dissection Part One.

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Click here to watch a video of an Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection Part Two.

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Click here to watch a video of the Wipple Procedure.

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Click here to watch a video of Endoscopy.

References:

1. Endo Club Nord – The International Endoscopy Forum, ECN Congress 2007. Available at URL: http://www.endoclubnord.de/index.php?hp=33&
2. Soehendra N, Faiss S, HF, Welcome to the 15th ENDO CLUB NORD! (Welcome address), ENDO CLUB NORD Program 2007. Available at URL: http://www.endoclubnord.de/en/downloads/ECN_Program_2007.pdf
3. Sharma P. Barrett’s esophagus: killer or overkill? (State-of-the-art lecture- 9/11/07), ENDO CLUB NORD, Congress Center Hamburg 2007
4. Hagenmüller F, Stolte M. Endoscope replaces microscope: when will biopsy become redundant? (Endo Dispute 10/11/07), ENDO CLUB NORD, Congress Center Hamburg 2007.