All hands-on courses will take place on Tuesday 23rd June 2026. Participation only possible in combination with registration for the core congress. For prices, check the registration page.
Entry level: resident in training.
Tuesday 23rd June 2026
HO1 Flexible Endoscopy
Course director: Silvana Perretta (France)
Tutors: Maria Vannucci (Italy), Andras Legner (Austria), Ludovica Guerriero (Italy), Matyas Fehervari (UK), Rita Rodriguez Luna (France), Seung-hun Chon (Germany)
Assistant: Agnès Gronfier (France)
LIMITED AVAILABILITY
Location: Anatomy Techniques & Training Center Athens
09.00 – 17.00 hrs
Please note that this course will be held at a secondary location, not in the congress centre
Programme highlights:
- Complication management: Endoscopic handling of bleeding, perforations, leaks and fistulas
- Advanced resections: Mastery of ESD, third-space resection, and full-thickness
- Suturing techniques: Gastric plication and mucosal ablation
At the end of this course, the participant will:
- Understand the value and indications of preoperative endoscopy,
- Become familiar with the endoscopic management of common gastro-intestinal surgery complications such as bleeding, perforations, leaks and fistula,
- Understand indications and basic steps of endoscopic resection in a controlled and supervised setting,
- Become familiar with endoscopic techniques for morbid obesity
HO2 Laparoscopic suturing beginner sponsored by Karl Storz
Course director: Thomas Carus (Germany)
LIMITED AVAILABILITY
Room: MC2
12.00 – 13.30 hrs
• Demonstration of instruments for laparoscopic suturing
• Basic knot 1: laparoscopic surgical knot
• Basic knot 2: laparoscopic slip knot
• Basic suture: laparoscopic running suture
• Demonstration of stapling instruments
HO3 Laparoscopic suturing beginner and advanced sponsored by Karl Storz
Course director: Thomas Carus (Germany)
LIMITED AVAILABILITY
Room: MC2
14.30 – 17.30 hrs
• Perforation closure with laparoscopic slip knot
• Laparoscopic closure of a linear defect
• Segment resection: laparoscopic hand-sewn end-end anastomosis
• Segment resection laparoscopic end-end anastomosis with circular stapler
• Laparoscopic end-side anastomosis in combined hand-sewn / stapler technique
HO4 Laparoscopic bile duct exploration Choledochoscopy sponsored by Karl Storz
Course director: Ahmad Nassar (UK)
Tutors: Jaime Vilaça (Portugal), Tarek Katbeh (UK), Aristotelis Perrakis (Greece)
Location: Anatomy Techniques & Training Center Athens
09.00 – 17.00 hrs
Please note that this course will be held at a secondary location, not in the congress centre
Objectives: Advanced procedure–based course highlighting the technical and logistical aspects of one session laparoscopic exploration of the bile duct. A course designed for consultants and senior trainees with the skills of routine and emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy who may already have experience with intra-operative cholangiography. The candidates are made familiar with the technical aspects through short interactive talks. The course has a major practical hands-on component with opportunity to practice cholangiography, trans-cystic duct cannulation and exploration, choledochotomy exploration and methods of biliary drainage. There will be emphasis on the handling and optimal use of 3mm & 5mm choledochoscopes. Well-designed animal tissue models allow for task repetition and skills development and consolidation. Adequate time is dedicated to detailed discussions of technical aspects and tips from instructors with experience of over 2000 bile duct explorations, utilising extensive video material.
