EAU Baltic Meeting 2015: Urological progress in the Baltics
The Baltic region has recorded remarkable progress in best practices and innovative research in urology and the advances are reflected in the work of both young and veteran urologists.
“The Baltic region has shown notable progress and this has been reflected in your productivity and active participation in various international projects,” said EAU Regional Office Chairman Prof. Bob Djavan in his opening remarks as he welcomed participants to the 2nd EAU Baltic Meeting which opened today in Riga, Latvia.
More than 340 participants including exhibitors and faculty members are attending the two-day meeting. Aside from urologists coming from neighboring countries, the meeting gathers the members of three national urology societies from Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.
“At least 80 to 90 percent of members from these societies are here in Riga and we are proud of your active work, and we certainly expect a bright future for urology here,” added Djavan. Professors Mindaugas Jievaltas (LT), Egils Vjaters (LV) and Toomas Tamm (EE), reiterated in their remarks that collaboration among the countries are essential in achieving key advances in urology.
Aside from state-of-the-art lectures on onco-urology and other urological diseases, the meeting offers laparoscopy hands-on training, courses from the European School of Urology and poster/abstracts sessions where the best studies will be awarded at the end of the meeting on Saturday.
Prof. Francesco Montorsi (IT) discussed the contemporary management of high-risk prostate cancer, and compared the benefits and drawbacks of open surgery and robot-assisted assisted procedures. He presented data from his own centre regarding nerve-sparing surgery, which he said can lead to better outcomes, particularly in terms of blood loss and length of hospital stay.
He also examined the impact of prior treatment such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy in high-risk patients. Dr. Linards Redmanis (LV) examined the issue of renal colic, discussing conservative and surgical management in the upper urinary tract including diagnostics, pain management, medical expulsive treatment and obstruction management. He also mentioned current challenges such as how to improve the effectiveness of patient’s management in the light of new technologies and the growing proportion of acute cases.
Regarding pain mananagement, Redmanis noted: “NSAIDs showed similar efficacy as opioids for relieving pain of acute renal colic with significant lower side effects.”
In one of his key messages, Redmanis welcomed the use of endoscopic approaches. "Endoscopic approach is promising higher stone-free rates," he said while adding that it will be the physician who will determine the proper approach based on the patient's characteristics.