Laparoscopy Today

Laparoscopy Today, The Essential Multidisciplinary Information Source

Laparoscopy Today features articles from leading experts on the most recent developments in minimally invasive therapies, the SLS President's Corner, Products for the Laparoscopic Surgeon, Conference Reports, Journal Watch, and the Laparoscopy Web which includes updates on websites that provide laparoscopic surgeons with invaluable information.

FROM THE 18th SLS ANNUAL MEETING: MULTIDISCIPLINARY PLENARY SESSION CANCER AND LAPAROSCOPY

Advanced Robotic Technique as a Surgical Treatment Option for Prostate Cancer
David Samadi, MD

What you leave behind is as important as what you remove. Robotic treatment of prostate cancer offers benefits over other approaches. 

19TH SLS ANNUAL MEETING CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

Call For Abstracts PUBLICATION DEADLINE IS LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY! DON'T DELAY. Send your abstracts by FEBRUARY 1, 2010.  Abstracts received after this date may be presented,  but will not be published. Submit your abstract online.

FROM THE 18th SLS ANNUAL MEETING: MULTIDISCIPLINARY PLENARY SESSION CANCER AND LAPAROSCOPY

The Role of Laparoscopy in Pediatric Abdominal Malignant Tumors presented by Gustavo Stringel, MD, MBA & Cancer and Laparoscopy: Pearls and Pitfalls presented by Stephen Kavic, MD

Laparoscopy in the pediatric patient can be used for biopsy, resection, and to evaluate the need for resection. Malignant tumors occur in 1 to 2 of every 10,000 patients less than 15 years of age. 

SURGICAL SIMULATION FELLOWSHIP--UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

The Department of Urologic Surgery at the University of Minnesota is recruiting a Post Doctoral Associate for a one-year Gyrus ACMI-sponsored Surgical Simulation Fellowship.

The goal of this position is to provide a foundation for creating international leaders in the development, evaluation and delivery of surgical curricula enhanced by simulation.

SLS OFFERS A POWERFUL TRAINING TOOL FOR SURGEONS WORLDWIDE

by Ann Conti Morcos

“This is quite honestly the most impressive information available for surgeons today.” --Richard Satava, MD

“The mission of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons (SLS) is to provide information and education to surgeons worldwide,” said Paul Wetter, MD, chairman of SLS, at the Eighteenth SLS Annual Meeting & Endo Expo 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, September 9-12.

In line with this mission, SLS has just launched SLS TV, said Wetter. Now, no matter where you are in the world, if you have Internet access or an iPhone, you can view educational videos of the latest minimally invasive surgical techniques. For example, one video shows a case of transvaginal extraction of donor nephrectomy. 

FROM THE 18th SLS ANNUAL MEETING: SPECIAL MASTER'S CLASS LECTURE

"It’s hard to get cadavers these days,” said Dr. Gerald B. Healy in his talk “The Challenges Facing 21st Century Surgery.”

But that is just one problem facing surgeons today. Change in medicine is happening very quickly.

FROM THE 18th SLS ANNUAL MEETING: MASTER'S CLASS #1

Smart Surgeons Learn From Their Mistakes, Brilliant Surgeons Learn From Other Surgeons' Mistakes: Prevention and Management of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgical Complications

Howard N. Winfield, MD, discussed surgeons’ mistakes from the genitourinary (GU) perspective in his presentation “Prevention & Management of Urological Laparoscopic Complications.” The rate of complications increases

FROM THE 18th SLS ANNUAL MEETING: MASTER'S CLASS #1

Smart Surgeons Learn From Their Mistakes, Brilliant Surgeons Learn From Other Surgeons'Mistakes: Prevention and Management of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgical Complications

“All abdominal or pelvic procedures carry an inherent risk of bowel injury,” said Raymond J. Lanzafame, MD, MBA, FACS, in his discussion 

See it in HD! SLS Website Tour

See the details... the SLS Website Tour on SLS TV is available in high definition. Take the tour to see how SLS can help you keep up with the latest information. Click here to take the tour.

SLS Website Tour

Now available on SLS TV, the SLS Website Tour is your complete guide to using the SLS website as a time-saving portal to the vast amount of MIS information on the web. Click here to take the tour.

JSLS Ranks in the Top 50!

Previously ranked in 2007, 2008, and earlier this year as a top publication for the most monthly downloads, JSLS, Journal of the Society of Laparoendscopic Surgeons recently did it again and ranked in the Top 50 out of over 13,000 titles for full-text manuscript downloads!

Search JSLS for critical findings in MIS, then get the details on how to submit your research to this top ranking journal.

www.Laparoscopy.org  The Laparoscopic Surgery Information Source

AsianAmerican MultiSpecialty Summit IV Registration Discounts

SAVE $100!

Register online for the AsianAmerican MultiSpecialty Summit IV by December 10, 2009.

AsianAmerican MultiSpecialty Summit IV
 Laparoscopy & Minimally Invasive Surgery
 February 10-13, 2010

Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa
 Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

From the 18th SLS ANNUAL MEETING: Award Winning Resident Paper

Joshua A. Waters (right) received the Michael S. Kavic (left) Award for Best Resident Paper for his abstract submission to the SLS 18th Annual Meeting and Endo Expo 2009

Laparoscopic Colectomy: Does the Learning Curve Extend Beyond Colorectal Surgery Fellowship? 

Joshua A. Waters, MD, Ray Chihara, MD, Jose Moreno, MD, Bruce Robb, MD, Virgilio George, MD
Indiana University School of Medicine 

Background: As minimally invasive colon and rectal resection has become increasingly prevalent over the past decade, the role that fellowship training plays has become an important question. 

FROM THE 18th SLS ANNUAL MEETING: MASTER'S CLASS #1

Smart Surgeons Learn From Their Mistakes, Brilliant Surgeons Learn From Other Surgeons' Mistakes: Prevention and Management of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgical Complications

Can laparoscopy be used instead of laparotomy to treat pelvic pain during pregnancy? Yes, it can,

PARTICIPATE: Study on Epigastric Port Site Herniation

To participate in a study on epigastric port site herniation by Dr. Efthymiou, at the University of East Anglia, UK, please visit the following link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=D2t_2fmEW7qwhH_2bds6O30QSQ_3d_3d

FEATURED ARTICLE: THE ROLE OF SIMULATION TRAINING AND SKILL EVALUATION IN MAINTENANCE OF CERTIFICATION

HARRITH M. HASSON, MD, JOHN E. MORRISON, MD

ABSTRACT 
The American Board of Surgery revamped the Maintenance of Certification program in 2005, changing the recertification process. The 6 basic physician competencies are reflected in the 4 components of maintenance of certification: professional standing, life-long learning and self-assessment, cognitive expertise, and evaluation of surgical performance outcomes. Proficiency will be defined on the basis of objective assessment

NEW VIDEO AVAILABLE: Single Incision Sleeve Gastrectomy Using a Completely Intracorporeal Liver Retractor

EUROAMERICAN SUMMIT IV GETS A SECOND LIFE!

Miami, FL – December 31, 2008 – For the first time, surgeons from around the world could participate in the EuroAmerican Summit in Orlando, Florida without having to go to Orlando. Imagine sitting at a computer in your office on another continent asking questions in real time of SLS faculty avatars. SLS has established a presence in Second Life that will allowed just that.

TOP GUN LAPAROSCOPIC SKILLS AND SUTURING SUPER COURSE

February 2–6, 2009
Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia

Get Your Laparoscopic Skills Up to Speed: Become One of the Best of the Best

Are you concerned that advanced laparoscopic surgery has passed you by? Afraid that you can never develop the skills needed to safely compete with you colleagues? Be concerned no longer. Dr. Butch Rosser and the Department of Surgery at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia have the solution. Come to the scheduled Top Gun Laparoscopic Skills and Suturing Super Course, Morehouse School of Medicine, National Center for Primary Care, 720 Westview Drive, Atlanta, GA and get up to speed in one week.

Over 6000 surgeons have trusted Dr. Rosser to jump-start their journey into advanced laparoscopic surgery and he can help you also. Whether you are a gynecologist, general surgeon, cardiac surgeon, or urologist come join us from February 2–6, 2009. Remember the edge of the envelope starts here.

For more information go to rosseramti.com or contact Myra Stewart, Administrative Assistant, Morehouse School of Medicine, Department of Surgery (404) 616-3562 or via e-mail at mstewart@msm.edu.

Opening Ceremony, 17th SLS Annual Meeting and Endo Expo 2008, September 17–20, 2008

September 17, 2008

Chicago, Illinois, USA

The biggest thing “This Week in Chicago” was the SLS Annual Meeting and Endo Expo!

Opening the conference were the Blues Brothers who set the tone for an enjoyable evening with jokes and songs from days gone by that everyone could sing-along with. Dr. Paul Wetter announced several significant SLS achievements over the past year to the physicians from Korea, Turkey, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, Portugal, Japan, France, Singapore, China, Venezuela, India, Pakistan, Czech Republic, Iran, Mexico, Canada, and other countries, and almost every state in the Union who attended the conference. Kudos are in order for the following:

·      JSLS, Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons ranked in the top 100 downloads on the Ingenta Web site 6 times over the past year.

·      The JSLS table of contents ranked 9 of 10,000 downloads on the Ingenta site.

·      Prevention and Management of Laparoendoscopic Surgical Complications, 1st edition, is now available free online in Spanish. This translation is the result of the joint effort of SLS and ALACE (la Asociación Latinoamericana de Cirugía Endoscópica) and the work of Dr. Gustavo Stingel of SLS and Dr. Roberto Gallardo, President of ALACE. Prevention and Management has now been translated into Chinese, Portuguese, and Spanish.

·      The History of Endoscopy by Dr. Camran Nezhat was recently published at http://laparoscopy.blogs.com/endoscopyhistory/. This is an open access publication, which is envisioned to operate like Wikipedia, with minimally invasive surgeons from around the world submitting information, photos, and their experiences for review and addition to the book. The book is available through RSS feed for downloading to your cell phone or other device. Dr. Nezhat had a fellowship to research and write this book, which took him 2 years.

·      Laparoscopy Today has been available online for 2 years. The latest issue is the first “green” issue, which can be downloaded as a PDF.

Following these announcements awards for the best scientific papers, videos, and poster presentations were handed out, and Dr. William E. Kelley, Jr., SLS President, gave his address. The Honorary Chairs for this year’s conference were Makote Hashizume, MD, PhD, of Japan who shared his expertise on image-guided minimally invasive robot-assisted surgery, and Errico Zupi, MD, of Italy who discussed NOTES. Rounding out the evening was a special talk by James “Butch” Rosser, Jr., MD, of “Top Gun” fame who shared his inspiring thoughts about virtual learning. With that, conference attendees followed the Blues Brothers into the welcome reception and opening of the exhibit hall, which marked the official opening of the conference.

by Ann Conti Morcos, MA, ELS