In our latest speakers interview ahead of the ESCP Annual Conference this year, we hear from Anders Mellgren and Giulio Santoro about their X° Endoanal and Pelvic Floor Ultrasound Workshop for ESCP meeting in Nice in September.
Anders Mellgren is Professor of Surgery and Chair of the Division of Colon & Rectal Surgery at University of Illinois, Chicago, USA, and Giulio Santoro is Head of Pelvic Floor Unit, Treviso Regional Hospital Italy, Director of the Italian School of Pelvic Floor Ultrasonograhy. Together they are leading the X°Edition of the Endoanal and Pelvic Floor Ultrasound Workshop at ESCP Nice this September.
Santoro explains why an educational focus on ultrasound imaging of anorectal and pelvic floor disorders is so important:
"Imaging is gaining a key role in the understanding of pelvic floor disorders. Three-dimensional endoanal, endorectal and endovaginal ultrasonography, and dynamic transperineal US (DTPUS) are nowadays increasingly used in clinical practice for patients suffering from pelvic floor dysfunctions (fecal and urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, obstructed defecation) and for patients with anal and rectal pathologies, either benign (anorectal sepsis) or malignant (anorectal tumors). These noninvasive techniques not only provide a superior depiction of the pelvic anatomy but also yield unique dynamic information. This new 3D technology is on the front line in the diagnostic and therapeutic workup, and, due to the elaboration of images, achieves better accuracy in the diagnosis of these complex diseases".
Delegates will also be treated to an opportunity to interact with the technology during this course.
Mellgren also outlines that
“following the success of the previous editions and according to the feedback received from those participants, the Course will give space to an interactive and practical session with video and review of clinical cases. In this way trainees will be able to discuss specific details of the techniques and be shown how to manipulate and analyse 3D volumes”.
Several highly-regarded specialists in this area (Liliana Bordeianou from US, Abdul Sultan from UK, Pawel Wieczorek from Poland) have been selected to provide their experiences on the different topics of the Workshop as well.
Lectures will present the main guidelines and indications for the use of the different US techniques in clinical practice, demonstrating the endosonographic appearance of normal anatomy and common pathologic conditions of the anorectal region and pelvic floor. A critical appraisal of current evidence will be offered as well as a look into the way new techniques can be implemented in current practice.
After this course, trainees will be more aware of established endoanal ultrasoundapproaches, as well as newer 3D and dynamic ultrasound techniques. They will learn when and how new techniques can be implemented and what the current standing of these modalities is.
The X° Endoanal and Pelvic Floor Ultrasound Workshop will take place on Wednesday 26 September 2018 from 8:00am-12:30pm at ESCP Nice.
Find out more about the XXII° International Course – Ultrasonographic Imaging of Pelvic Floor Disorders in Treviso, Italy on 21-23 November 2018.