“13th Annual Expert Meeting on Laser Application in Thoracic Surgery - open Approach and VATS” in Fr

Training and hands-on workshops are an elementary component, particularly for the use of complex products such as surgical lasers. That is why the “Expert Meeting on Laser Application” was held in Freiburg and Strasbourg in December last year under the organization of the Clinic for Thoracic Surgery of the University Hospital Freiburg and its chief physician Prof. Dr. med. Bernward Passlick instead.

Doctors from all over the world attended the course on site to continue their training with exciting lectures from experienced surgeons and scientists and to apply their knowledge in a practical manner. Above all, the mix of lectures, live surgeries, training model workplace and workshop on the anesthetized pig makes this course particularly multifaceted.

The Expert Meeting focused on the basics of medical laser systems, technical aspects of the Nd: YAG laser and operational aspects of laser-assisted metastasis surgery. The topics of resection limits and local recurrence as well as indications and results of lung metastasis surgery aroused particular interest. In the afternoon, the theoretical topics were supplemented by two live broadcasts from the thoracic operating room of the Freiburg University Hospital, both minimally invasive and open surgery. The participants had the opportunity to speak directly to the surgeons in the operating room. Questions could be asked directly and the discussion stimulated.

The first day of the course was rounded off by a workshop station at which the participants could use the Limax® laser endobronchially. This was characterized in particular by the use of a realistic training model, which was equipped with a prepared pork lung including the bronchus.

Practice follows theory. The participants were able to put their knowledge into practice on the second day of the course. The premises of the IRCAD Training Center in Strasbourg were used for this. There, the participants were able to perform a minimally invasive and open metastasectomy on the pig using our Limax® laser and high-frequency surgery device maXium®. The four workstations were each supervised by a laser-experienced surgeon, who supported them with tips and tricks. The participants particularly appreciated the intensive training in small groups and the ability to simulate an entire procedure.

Finally, we can look back on a thoroughly successful course in Freiburg and Strasbourg and are already looking forward to its 14th edition this year.

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