EAU provides support to unique training course in Romania

The Department of Urology of the Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Timisoara, Romania held from April 1 to 3 what is considered as the first course in Radical Cystectomy and Urinary Diversion Techniques.

“To our knowledge this is the first course of its kind in Europe, and is similar to courses currently offered to our colleagues in Mansoura, Egypt,” said the organisers who added the course attracted a lot of participants. “The 16 slots were immediately filled up within two days since the course was first announced. We even had a long waiting list,” they said.

The organisers received strong support from the EAU with representation by EAU Adjunct Secretary General for Education, Prof. Hein van Poppel. Van Poppel said the EAU’s involvement highlighted its continuing efforts to provide direct educational support and expertise to urological departments across Europe.

Aside from Prof. Van Poppel, Department Chairman Prof. Viorel Bucuras and Course Director Dr. Alin Cumpanas invited two other renowned surgeons as faculty members, Dr. Nikolaus Vesa (DE) and Assoc. Prof. Gabriel Gluck (RO). For a more comprehensive coverage of the many aspects in bladder surgery, anesthesiologist Dr. Ursula Roghmann (DE) also participated with two presentations regarding the anesthetic aspects of radical cystectomy and focusing on procedures in elderly patients.

“Our basic aim was to improve theoretical knowledge and for participants to gain practical skills in one of the toughest urological procedures. Moreover, incidence of malignant bladder disease is rising and radical cystectomy offers the best chance to reduce recurrence,” according to Cumpanas.

Live surgery and HoT sessionsThe course had three modules:

1. Theoretical presentations (including the preoperative assessment and preparation of the patient), radical cystectomy in male and female, tips and tricks to solve intraoperative troubles, ileal conduit diversion, how to improve results after radical cystectomy and how to manage the urethra during radical cystectomy, postoperative management and the management of complications);
2. Live surgery sessions (five radical cystectomies with orthotopic ileal neobladder, ileal conduit or cutaneous ureterostomy were performed) in the morning; and
3. Mentored hands-on training sessions in the afternoon.

The course used the exceptional facilities of the university’s Center for Experimental Surgery, Microsurgery and Laparoscopy, which impressed all faculty members. Under close mentoring, the trainees performed cystectomies in animal models and different types of orthotopic ileal neobladder procedures.

Trainees lauded the three-day compact course for its thorough approach and the dedicated supervision of the mentors. The participants also had the chance to interact with the surgeons during and after the live surgeries and benefited from their expertise.

“Following its success, we intend to continue this course by offering it also to our colleagues from abroad, and by putting it in the educational framework and calendar of the European Association of Urology,” said Prof. Bucuras and Cumpanas.