Plenary sessions: core issues in urology

Thu, 28 Feb 2013

Every congress day, with the exception of Friday, begins with a plenary session dedicated to one of the most pressing issues in today’s urology research and practice. The EAU Scientific Congress Office has made sure to bring the delegates a varied and in-depth discussion on each of these topics.From young to old

The first plenary session is dedicated to the management of urological diseases in the young and the aging patients. Chaired by Profs. W. Artibani (IT) and D.J.M.K. De Ridder (BE), this session aims to look into the continuity of urological care for younger patients who take their conditions into adulthood and old age. In line with this theme, long-term outcomes of such care will be discussed.

The session will also address a number of issues related to how urological practice today adjusts to Europe’s aging population and the how urologists need to be prepared to deal with age-specific pathologies such as incontinence and prolapse.

According to the organisers, another important discussion will be tackled during the session.

“What about ageing itself, is this a disease or not?” The answer to this may determine how urology is practiced in the near future and whether we need to adjust the way we communicate with and educate our patients.

Upper urinary tract

The second plenary session dedicated to the management of upper urinary tract diseases will kick-start the Sunday programme of the congress. Chaired by Profs. F.C. Hamdy (GB) and F. Montorsi, (IT), the session will begin with a series of highlights covering the current state of affairs in prostate disease, female urology and reconstruction.

Following this discussion, Prof. M.P. Laguna (NL), will offer an update on the dilemmas in diagnosing upper tract urothelial cancer whereas Profs. T.S. O'Brien (GB), O. Traxer (FR) and M. Brausi (IT) will engage in a multifaceted debate on various aspects of surgery for this tumour.

The session will also include an EAU Guidelines Office case discussion, a lecture by the Société Internationale d'Urologie, and update: Interventional imaging, a case discussion on the management of upper urinary tract stones as well as an update regarding observation and deferred intervention in the management of stones.

Lower urinary tract management: Balancing benefits with side-effects

Monday will open with the third plenary session, chaired by Profs. P. Radziszewski (PL) and M. Wirth (DE). The session will be devoted to both incontinence and LUT symptoms management, including state-of-the-art discussions on anatomy, patophysiology, diagnosis and treatment. The delegates will be able to learn about the current and emerging treatment options in pharmacotherapy and surgery.

The organisers point out that special attention will be paid to the role of the urodynamics, as well as instructive cases on surgical management of incontinence in man and woman. The update on LUTS therapy will follow and will focus on practical aspects of the new therapies. The session will be concluded by state of the art on current role of TURP.The plenary session will feature a series of presentations by some of the world’s best experts in the field.

Souvenir sessions and hot topics in prostate cancer

The fourth plenary session will have the undivided attention of congress delegates, being the only session on Tuesday. The EAU Scientific Congress Office will sum up all the major conclusions from the event in their series of souvenir sessions – covering all sub-fields of urology.

The delegates will get clear messages regarding prostate cancer prevention provided by a group of authors from different disciplines, on the role and current status of focal therapy, on the best treatment modality for high risk prostate cancer, on the place of intermittent androgen deprivation therapy and on the most recent developments in medical treatments.

Additionally, late breaking news presentations are reserved for this day, with detailed information being presented by the study’s lead investigators.

View the scientific programme >