Hands-on courses SIS2026

Thursday, 22nd January 2026

HO1 Advanced techniques in image-guided surgery: a hands-on workshop on porcine models
Course director: Hélder Ferreira (Portugal), Ludovica Baldari (Italy)
Location: Location: ICBAS – University of Porto
Whole day: 08.30 – 18.00 hrs
Tutors: Pedro Brandão (Portugal), Manish Chand (UK), Juan Gilabert (Spain), Michele Diana (Switzerland), Rui Costa (Portugal), Humberto Machado (Portugal)

Course outline:
Morning Session – Foundations & Demonstrations

Time	Activity	Faculty
08:30 – 09:00	Welcome & Introduction	Hélder Ferreira Ludovica Baldari
09:00 – 09:20	Principles of ICG Fluorescence Imaging	Hélder Ferreira
09:20 – 09:40 09:40 – 10:00 10:00-10:20	Clinical Applications Across Specialties: – Image-guided technologies for perfusion assessment – ICG fluorescence cholangiography – ICG fluorescence applications in Gynecology & Urology	Baldari Ludovica Baldari Ludovica Hélder Ferreira
10:20 – 10:45	Q & A Pitfalls & Tips in Image-Guided Surgery	Panel discussion
10:45 – 11:00	Coffee Break
11:00 – 12:00 11:00 – 11:15 11:15 – 11:30 11:30 – 11:45 11:45 – 12.00	Re-Live Demonstrations: Minimally invasive procedures with image guided technologies (multidisciplinary cases)	Pedro Brandão Juan Gilabert Hélder Ferreira Rui Costa
12:00 – 12:30	Pig anatomy Exercises demonstration	Baldari Ludovica Hélder Ferreir

Afternoon Session – Hands-on Training

Time	Activity	Faculty
12:30 – 13:15	Lunch Break
13:15 – 14:00	Hands-on Briefing & Station Allocation (overview of models, tasks, safety)	EAES Faculty Anesthesiologist
14:00 – 17:00	1. Gynecology & Urology applications: – Cistoscopy and ICG injection for ureter visualization – ICG Cervix injection – Abdominal part: Uretherolisys Pelvic Lymphadenectomy Hysterectomy 2. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy with ICG cholangiography 3. Rectal resection with ICG perfusion assessment	Each station: 1 Faculty member Hélder Ferreira Ludovica Baldari Pedro Brandão Juan Gilabert Manish Chand Michele Diana Rui Costa & 2 Delegates
17:00 – 17:20	Next Generation of Image-Guided Surgery: Laser & Spectral Imaging	Michele Diana
17:20 – 17:40	Next Generation of Image-Guided Surgery: Artificial Intelligence	Michele Diana
17:40 – 18:00	Group Debriefing Closing Remarks & Certificate Distribution	Hélder Ferreira Ludovica Baldari

Target audience: Surgical trainees and specialists in minimally invasive surgery (general surgery, colorectal, gynaecology, urology).
Course objectives:

• Understand the principles of ICG fluorescence and near-infrared (NIR) imaging.
• Learn the main clinical applications of ICG in minimally invasive and robotic surgery.
• Acquire hands-on experience in image-guided procedures for safe and effective surgical decision-making.
• Discuss current evidence, limitations, and future perspectives of fluorescence-guided surgery.

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HO2 Advanced bariatric surgery hands-on course on human cadavers and porcine models
Course director: Paulo Soares (Portugal), Miloš Bjelovic (Serbia), Cătălin Copăescu (Romania)
Location: ICBAS – University of Porto
Whole day: 08.30 – 18.30 hrs
Tutors: Miljan Zindovic (Montenegro), Dragan Gunjic (Serbia), Isabel Mesquita (Portugal), Humberto Machado (Portugal)

Obesity is a 21st century pandemic. Obesity Surgery Societies have held successive meetings and congresses to discuss the best surgical techniques and their advances and variations.

Theoretical-practical training is an important pillar of knowledge.

The cadaveric model allows contact with human anatomy, adequate dimensions, real anatomy, without hemorrhage and manipulation of living tissue.

The objectives of this course are to teach the most common bariatric surgeries, tissue handling, perform the vertical gastrectomy (sleeve), SADI-S, gastric bypass in a cadaveric model, laparoscopically and using materials equally available in real surgery.

In this full day course, the fundamental aspects of this surgical techniques will be presented by a group of experienced surgeons who will share tips and tricks, so that individual objectives within the course are met.

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Saturday, 24th January 2026

HO3 Remote access to the neck – hands-on course on human cadavers and porcine models
Course director: Jaime Vilaça (Portugal)
Location: University of Minho in Braga
Whole day: 08.30 – 18.30 hrs
Tutors: Barbara Seeliger (Germany), Oscar Vidal (Spain), Ozer Makay (Turkey), Carlos E Costa Almeida (Portugal), Susana Graça (Portugal), Carlos Serra (Portugal), Louis Couceiro (UK)
Limited availability: max 10 participants

Course outline:

08.30 – 08.40	Opening: introduction and protocol – Jaime Vilaça
08.40 – 08.50	Evidence based medicine AAA and BABA – Barbara Seeliger
08.50 – 09.00	AAA step-by-step technique – Oscar Vidal
09.00 – 09.10	BABA Step-by-step technique – Carlos Eduardo Costa Almeida
09.10 – 10.00	Clinical cases and videos (5 minutes each)
10.00 – 10.30	Coffee break
10.30 – 13.00	Porcine model
13.00 – 14.00	Lunch
14.00 – 14.10	Evidence based medicine TOETVA – Luis Couceiro
14.10 – 14.20	Indications for TOETVA – Barbara Seeliger
14.20 – 14.30	TOETVA Step-by-step technique – Ozer Makay
14.30 – 15.00	New technologies and remote access to the neck: – PT fluorescence – Carlos Serra – Neuromonitorization – Carlos Eduardo Costa Almeida – Robotics – Oscar Vidal
15:00 – 15:30	Clinical cases and videos (5 minutes each)
15.30 – 16.00	Coffee break
16.00 – 18.30	Cadaver models

Neck surgery has undergone recent advances with the introduction of remote endoscopic access. In addition to the benefit of being scarless surgery, these approaches benefit from image magnification, light optimisation and excellent patient recovery. The objectives of this course are to teach both the axillary-areolar access technique and the oral access technique. Fundamental aspects of the use of these approaches are presented by a group of experienced surgeons. There will be discussion of clinical cases, tips & tricks, and hours of hands-on training on cadaver and porcine model. The future of thyroid and parathyroid surgery will involve the use of these techniques, which should increasingly become the domain of the 21^st century head and neck surgeon.

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HO4 Wall surgery – hands-on course on human cadavers and porcine models
Course director: Ferdinando Agresta (Italy), Fernando Ferreira (Portugal)
Location: University of Minho in Braga
Whole day: 09.00 – 18.00 hrs
Tutors: Chi-Chuan Yeh (Taiwan), Emanuel Guerreiro (Portugal), Juan Bellido Luque (Spain)

Join us in Braga for the Wall Surgery hands-on course at the University of Minho — a focused, full-day training designed to strengthen your practical skills in abdominal wall surgery. Led by course directors Ferdinando Agresta and Fernando Ferreira, the programme combines clear, structured teaching with extensive hands-on experience using human cadavers and porcine models. Participants will review key anatomy, radiological considerations, and established approaches such as SCOLA, TAPP, and eTEP, guided by an international faculty including Chi-Chuan Yeh, Emanuel Guerreiro, and Juan Bellido Luque. With dedicated time for laparoscopic suturing and a comprehensive afternoon lab, this course offers a valuable opportunity to refine techniques and consolidate safe, evidence-based practice in abdominal wall surgery.

09.00 – 09.15	Introduction by Ferdinando Agresta and Fernando Ferreira
09.15 – 09.35	Abdominal anatomy viewed inside out – Emanuel Guerreiro
09.35 – 09.55	Radiological reviewing to prevent unexpected surgical mishaps – Chi-Chuan Yeh
09.55 – 10.00	Discussion
10.00 – 10.20	Subcutaneous On-lay Laparoscopic Approach (SCOLA): Overview, indications, contra- indications and complications – Fernando Ferreira
10.20 – 10.40	Transabdominal preperitoneal approach (TAPP) indications, contraindications and complications – Ferdinando Agresta
10.40 – 11.00	Enhanced Totally Extra Peritoneal (eTEP) Rives-Stoppa Approach: Overview, indications, contra-indications and complications – Juan Bellido-Luque
11.00 – 11.10	Discussion
11.10 – 11.20	Coffee break and change into scrubs
11.20 – 12.20	Porcine laparoscopic suturing of the anterior abdominal fascia
12.20 – 13.05	Lunch
13.05 – 13.20	Group photo and briefing regarding ethical standards for lab
13.20 – 17.20	Cadaver (or alternative) lab, hands-on
17.20 – 17.30	Conclusion of course