The 32nd International Congress of the European Hernia Society, 6–9 October 2010, Istanbul, Turkey

Abstract

The 32nd International Congress of the European Hernia Society was held in Istanbul, Turkey, between 6th and 9th October 2010. With the motto “Conventional to the Contemporary”, the congress attracted over 1,200 surgeons from Europe, 450 surgeons from Turkey, 100 company representatives, key opinion leaders, and hospital administrators from medical centers around the world, spanning 48 countries. The WOW Hotels & Convention Center provided an ideal venue for plenary sessions, breakout sessions, poster displays, and exhibition hall. More than 700 accommodation rooms in both 4and 5-star parts of the WOW Hotel played host to more than 1,000 congress participants. In the convention center, two halls for a total of 1,500 delegates, an additional hall for 250 delegates, and four workshop rooms were used for the scientiWc program. In addition to this, a 750-m foyer area, Wve oYce rooms, and an 850-m exhibition hall area were also used. Two art exhibitions in the foyer area about Istanbul’s historical and art culture impressed all of the participants. With the “Conventional to the Contemporary” motto, as well as innovative perspectives, traditional diagnostic and treatment methods were discussed. The scientiWc program also included new information on biological meshes, postherniorrhaphy pain, mesh Wxation, medico-legal aspects of hernia surgery, guidelines, aspects of incisional hernia repair, movie sessions, and a unique contribution to humanitarian hernia surgery. Furthermore, all of the major industry providers staged symposia during the breakfast, lunch, or afternoon break periods to provide preliminary data and outcome studies for new products. The sessions held in the plenary hall were well attended, with good chairmanship and stimulating discussion. In order that the program content could beneWt a greater audience, especially for those who were unable to attend the congress in person, the main sessions of the congress were webcast live, with facilities that allowed the remote audience to interact with faculty members and participate during the question and answer sessions. Thanks to modern technology, this brought the actual total number of participants close to 2,000. Prep courses which were organized simultaneously in three parallel rooms before the congress were very popular, with 120 participants. For the congress, 250 diVerent scientiWc studies were oVered to the congress scientiWc committee. From those, 38 scientiWc studies were presented as an oral presentation and 26 as a video presentation. There was much debate and interest for the posters which were presented during the congress. After hard and long discussions, the winners for the best oral, video, and poster presentations were chosen by the congress committee. Award winners received their awards in the closing ceremony. In addition to 32 pharmaceutical and medical sponsor companies, the Star Alliance Group sponsored the congress as the “OYcial Airline Network”. In addition to the scientiWc program, the many organized social events provided delegates with unforgettable experiences in historic and popular venues of Istanbul. The speakers’ dinner took place on a luxury Bosphorus excursion boat. Dinner and the night show at Galata Tower for the faculty were great. Amongst all of this, the dinners organized by sponsor companies at Istanbul’s popular venues, such as Suada, Sait Halim Pasha Mansion, 1001 Direk Cistern, and Reina, were magniWcent. M. Ertem (&) Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey e-mail: metinertem@hotmail.com