The European School of Coloproctology Colorectal Robotic Surgery Working Group (ColoRobotica) is delighted to announce the successful completion of webinar series, From basic skills to fine art. Supported by Intuitive.


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Series 04

Part 04: Hot Topics in Colorectal Surgery

18 January 2024

These expert-led presentations will help you gain a deeper understanding of the hot topics that are currently under discussion in the world of colorectal surgery. It's your chance to be at the forefront of emerging techniques and treatments in the field.

The programme includes:

  • Transanal transection and single-stapled anastomosis - Eloy Espin Basany (Spain)
  • Kono-S anastomosis in Crohn's Disease - Carmen Cagigas Fernandez (Spain)
  • Complex diverticular disease - Ellen Van Eetvelde (Belgium)
  • APER with lateral lymph node dissection - Marcos Gómez Ruiz (Spain)

Discussions and Live Q&A


Part 03: Maintaining Standards During the Learning Curve

19 October 2023

In this insightful 75-minute session our renowned panel explored pivotal aspects of maintaining standards during the robotic surgery learning curve. Topics navigated through in-person proctoring, telementoring, and other essential adjuncts in surgical training, providing a thorough understanding of each aspect.

The programme includes:

Introduction: Samson Tou (UK)

Presentations by:

  • In-person proctoring: Marta Pascual (Spain)
  • Telementoring: Silje Bakken Gill
  • Adjuncts in surgical training: Kapil Sahnan (UK)

Discussions and Live Q&A

Commentator: Gabriela Möslein (Germany)

Moderated by: Gabrielle van Ramshorst (Belgium), Marcos Gómez Ruiz (Spain)


Part 02: Minimally invasive surgery - CME for left flexure cancer

22 June 2023

In this webinar, our panel of colorectal surgeons and anatomists delved into the latest techniques and advancements in minimally invasive surgery, focusing on CME for left flexure cancer.

The programme includes:

  • Introduction
  • Anatomy - Bjarte Tidemann Andersen (Norway)
  • Oncological dissection: Laparoscopic approach: Claus Anders Bertelsen (Denmark)
  • Oncological dissection: Robotic approach - Marcos Gómez Ruiz (Spain)
  • Anastomosis technique - Ellen van Eetvelde (Belgium)
  • Discussions and Live Q&A

Comments by Thilo Wedel (Germany)

Moderators: Nuha Yassin (UK) and Paolo Bianchi (Italy)


Part 01: Pushing the Boundary - Redo Cases Robotically 

20 April 2023

In this webinar, our experts in colorectal robotic surgery pushed the boundaries by revisiting challenging cases robotically.

The programme includes:

  • Introduction
  • Hartmann's Reversal - Paolo Bianchi (Italy)
  • Redo Anastomosis - Carmen Cagigas Fernández (Spain)
  • Local Recurrence of Cancer - Jim Khan (UK)
  • Discussions and Live Q&A

Commentator: Roland Croner (Germany). Moderators: Esther Consten (The Netherlands), Christina Fleming (Ireland).


Series 03

Part 01: An update on inflammatory bowel disease and the role of robots

07 April 2022

In this webinar, our experts in colorectal surgery and robotics provided an update on inflammatory bowel disease and the role of robots.

Programme included:

  • Introduction – Sam Tou (Derby, UK)
  • ECCO guidelines on surgery for IBD – Willem Bemelman (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
  • Evidence of minimally invasive IBD surgery (lap and robotic) - Christina Fleming (Bordeaux, France)
  • Tips and tricks of robotic IBD surgery – Katie Adams (London, UK)
  • Commentator – Amy Lightner (Cleveland, US)
  • Discussions and Live Q&A

Moderators: Gabriela Möslein (Duisburg, Germany), Ellen Van Eetvelde (Brussels, Belgium)


Part 02: Staying out of trouble – non-technical skills in robotic surgery

16 June 2022

In this webinar, Our experts in colorectal surgery and robotics will be focusing on the importance of non-technical skills in robotic surgery and how you can use them to stay out of trouble.

Programme included:

  • Introduction: Sam Tou (Derby, UK)
  • The importance of non-technical skills in surgery – Richard Skipworth & Steven Yule (Edinburgh, Scotland)
  • NOTSS in robotic surgery - Nicola Eardley (Chester, UK)
  • Consistency and communication during training in robotic surgery – Marek Zawadzki (Wroclaw, Poland)
  • Commentator – David Zimmerman, (Tilburg, Netherlands)
  • Discussions and Live Q&A

Moderators: Gabrielle van Ramshorst (Ghent, Belgium), Nicola Eardley (Chester, UK)


Part 03: Training robotic LAR: The Do's and Don'ts…

13 October 2022

In this webinar, Our experts in colorectal surgery and robotics will be focusing on sharing a proficiency based progression metrics concept for LAR. The phases for LAR, procedure steps, errors and critical errors. Everything you need to do or not do for a successful robotic procedure.

Programme included:

  • Introduction: Klaus Matzel (Germany)
  • Proficiency based progression metrics concept - Tony Gallagher (Northern Ireland)
  • LAR Phases and the relevant phases for RLAR - Samson Tou (UK)
  • Steps to a successful RLAR - Lidia Cristobal (Spain)
  • Errors & critical errors during RLAR - Marcos Gómez Ruiz (Spain)
  • Discussions and Live Q&A (Additional questions answered after live webinar here Q&A Responses)

Commentator: Nader Francis (UK)
Moderator: Danilo Miskovic (UK) & Klaus Matzel (Germany)

Additional Q&A responses - Marcos Gómez Ruiz (Spain) responds to additional Q&A questions from live Training robotic LAR: The Do's and Don'ts webinar


Part 04: Anastomosis after rectal resection

1 December 2022

Programme included:

  • Introduction: Ellen Van Eetvelde (BE)
  • Double stapled robotic - Lars Thomas Seeberg (NO)
  • Double stapled with dog ears inverted robotic - Jim Khan (UK)
  • Transabdominal single stapler robotic - Marcos Gómez Ruiz (ES)
  • Transanal single stapler - Antonino Spinelli (IT)
  • Discussions and Live Q&A

Moderator: Deena Harji (UK), Ellen van Etvelde (BE)


Series 02 

Part 01: Lateral lymph node dissection in rectal cancer

17 June 2021

This 60-minute session on lateral lymph node dissection in rectal cancer, looked at the anatomy, evidence and rationale, as well as the robotic technique.

Key topics included:

  • Introduction – Klaus Matzel
  • Anatomy – Thilo Wedel
  • Rationale and evidence – Takashi Akiyoshi
  • Robotic technique – Ichiro Takemasa
  • Discussions and live Q&A

Presentations commented by George Chang

Moderators: Marcos Gómez Ruiz, Samson Tou

video The video of Series 02 Part 01 is available in the members area of this website


Part 02: It's always good to have a plan B – if things go wrong

Join us for our 60-minute event on why 'It's always good to have a plan B: if things go wrong'. Learn from experts in the field on how to understand what can go wrong, and how to think outside the box to solve the unforeseen challenges that can arise.

Key topics include:

  • Thinking outside the box on the go – Ellen van Eetvelde
  • Deviating by accident – Roger Gerjy
  • Conditions calling for trouble in robotic rectal resections – Charlie Evans
  • Discussions and Live Q&A

Invited comments: Philippe Rouanet

Moderators: Carmen Cagigas Fernandez, Dieter Hahnloser

video The video of Series 02 Part 02 is available in the members area of this website


Part 03: Implementation of a colorectal robotic programme: Recipe for success

04 November 2021

Programme includes:

  • Reasons to switch to the robot – Professor Yves Panis (Paris, France)
  • Lessons learnt (wisdom distilled) from our colleagues – Dr Ines Rubio-Perez (Madrid, Spain)
  • What constitutes "success" for the introduction of a colorectal robotic programme – Mr Samson Tou (Derby, UK)
  • Invited comments – Dr Slawomir Marecik (Chicago, US)
  • Discussions & Live Q&A

Moderators: Professor Miguel Pera (Barcelona, Spain), Professor Jared Torkington (Cardiff, UK)

video The video of Series 02 Part 03 is available in the members area of this website


Part 04: Colorectal Robotic Grand Round: Interactive Forum

09 December 2021

Join our expert panel of colorectal surgeons from across the globe for a live and interactive webinar. During the webinar, our faculty will discuss essential topics across complete mesocolic excision and low anterior resection, alongside answering our audience questions live.

Programme includes:

  • Low Anterior Resection – Discussed by Prof. George Chang (USA) & Prof. Antonino Spinelli (Italy)
  • Complete Mesocolic Excision – Discussed by Dr Ellen Van Eetvelde (Belgium) & Prof. Dr. Paolo Pietro Bianchi (Italy)
  • Live Q&A with our faculty and audience

Moderators: Dr. Marcos Gómez Ruiz (Spain), Prof. Eloy Espin Basany (Spain) & Dr Carmen Cagigas Fernandez (Spain)

video The video of Series 02 Part 04 is available in the members area of this website


Series 01

Part 01: Rationale and Setting up

12 November 2020

During this 60 minute event, our presenters focused on the rationale of robotic colorectal surgery and how to set up a safe and efficient robotic surgery programme.

Key topics included:

  • Introduction - Klaus Matzel
  • The rationale behind robotic surgery - Samson Tou
  • Setting up a robotic programme - Ellen van Eetvelde
  • Live Q&A

Presentations commented by Neil Mortensen, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England

Moderators: Marcos Gomez Ruiz, Klaus Matzel

video The video of Series 01 Part 01 is available in the members' area of this website


Part 02: General Concepts and Sigmoid Resection

17 December 2020

During the 60 minute event, our presenters focused on the general concepts of robotic colorectal surgery and sigmoid resection including splenic flexure mobilisation.

Key topics included:

  • Introduction - Klaus Matzel
  • General Concepts - Marek Zawadzki
  • Sigmoid Resection (incl. splenic flexure mobilisation) - Carmen Cagigas Fernandez
  • Live Q&A

Presentations commented by Professor Thomassen

Moderators: Roger Gerjy, Eloy Espin Basany

video The video of Series 01 Part 02 is available in the members' area of this website


Part 03: Low Anterior Resection

21 January 2021

During this 60 minute event, our presenters focused on low anterior resection, including setting up for a successful TME, tips and tricks and pitfalls and mistakes.

Key topics included:

  • Introduction - Klaus Matzel
  • Low anterior resection: Setting up for successful TME - Marcos Gomez
  • Low anterior resection: Tips and tricks, pitfalls and mistakes - Jim Khan

Presentations were commented on by Professor Seon Hahn Kim followed by live Q&A

Moderators: Shwan Amin and Daniel Perez

video The video of Series 01 Part 03 is available in the members' area of this website


Part 04: Complete Mesocolic Excision

16 March 2021

During the 60 minute event, our presenters focused on complete mesocolic excision, including choosing the right tool for the job, setup OR and ports, tips and tricks, pitfalls and mistakes.

Key topics included:

  • Introduction - Klaus Matzel
  • Compete mesocolic excision: Right tool for the job? - Roland Croner
  • Complete mesocolic excision: Setup OR and ports - Paolo Bianchi
  • Complete mesocolic excision: Tips, tricks, pitfalls and mistakes - Danilo Miskovic

Presentations were commented by Dr Garcia-Aguilar followed by live Q&A

Moderators: Danilo Miskovic and Paolo Bianchi

video The video of Series 01 Part 04 is available in the members area of this website

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