Joint ESGURS-ESAU Meeting - challenges and prospects
Challenges in treating male sexual dysfunctions and prospects in reconstructive surgery are two areas that will be addressed and covered by experts in andrology and reconstructive surgery during the two-day joint ESGURS-ESAU Meeting in London from September 13 to 14.
"Both fields are very important aspects of urology but are often overshadowed by the advances in oncology and robotic surgery. Hopefully using the new technologies can also help the reconstructive surgeon- for example in robotic bladder and ureteric reconstruction,” said Mr. David Ralph, consultant urologist of St Peters Andrology Centre & the Institute of Urology, UCLH, London.
Ralph, together with Dr. Daniela Andrich, is leading local organiser for the 3rd Joint Meeting of the EAU Sections of Genito-Urinary Reconstructive Surgeons (ESGURS) and the Andrological Urology (ESAU). The meeting will focus on the common interests and challenges in treatment strategies faced by experts and how the two specialities can collaborate.
“The collaborative research should concentrate not only on avoidance of complications, such as sexual dysfunction after any reconstructive procedure but also on exchanges of ideas that can be applied in both fields,” according to Ralph.
Live surgeries on urethroplasty, Peyronie’s Disease (grafting vs Nesbit) and slings versus sphincter for male incontinence will be featured on the first day.
“The main highlights are common interests between the sections. The first session is on urethroplasty and what impact it has on sexual function, particularly ejaculation. There will be a lecture on organic ejaculatory dysfunction to complement two live surgeries on bulbar urethroplasty using different approaches,” he said.
The second–day programme will cover topics such as treatment options for Lichen sclerosus (BXO) while the live surgeries will demonstrate techniques for penile and urethral reconstruction (for BXO) and penile implants.
A debate will be held on the second day on potential complications, and tips and tricks on surgical procedures will be given in another session. “After another series of poster/video presentations, the sections will separate again for lecture sessions. The ESAU for different debates on penile augmentation, testosterone replacement therapy, priapism and the ESGURS will debate on complex urethroplasty and incontinence issues,” Ralph said.
By presenting live surgeries, the organisers aim to provide participants the opportunity for direct exchanges with the surgeons and for them to see first-hand how challenges are resolved in the operating room.
“Live surgery is becoming the standard way to teach- to see how an experienced surgeon operates is invaluable as small important points that are not usually discussed in lectures can be addressed,” Ralph said as he noted there is always a lively interaction with the audience particularly when a complication has to be dealt with. “It is also invaluable for the different sections to see how the same condition can be treated in different ways because this may change how each of us manage different components of the pathology, while giving better standards of care,” he added.
London, being one of the main centres for reconstructive surgery in Europe, was chosen and the UCLH Education Centre, as meeting venue and site of the live surgeries, has hosted in the past many similar meetings. Participants have also been invited to submit case and video reports and the submissions that were selected will be presented during the meeting. On-line registration will be open until September 6.