Invitation

Ladies and gentlemen, Dear Collegues!

The advances in both laparoscopic and robotic surgery in the filed of urology in the recent years have trully dominated the urologic audience due to fascinating technology and nearly unlimited perspectives of further developments. However, "classic" transuretheral and percutaneous endourology has remained, especially in Poland, the key aspect of clinical urology. In the last years there has been a rapid progress in minimally invasive methods of treatment in endourology. The techniques such as surgeries with flexible ureterorenoscopes (FUSL, RIRS) and the whole group of percutaneous methods performed with the use of miniaturized endocopic tools (miniPCNL, ultraminiPCNL, mikroPCNL, supine PCNL) have become a standard of care. These methods are implemented not only in the treatment of urolithiasis but also in organ-sparing management of tumors of upper urinary tracts or other diseases of genitourinary system. Furhermore, the feasibility of fusion of modern minimally invasive methods in specific cases has appeared. The majority of these techniques have become available in last years in everyday practice in the Deaprtment of Urology, Multidisciplinary Hospital Warsaw-Miedzylesie. Still though these are the procedures highly challenging as far as the equipment and surgical skills are concerned. Gaining the experience (learning curve) is a longterm, and usually, costly process.

Thus, it seems that the necessity exists to assemble a forum in order to exchange opinions with experts with great experience. The workshops with on-live surgery transmissions are aimed at that matter and located in the teaching center with great tradition in introduction of new surgical modalities.

I truly belive that the idea would meet with a deep interest among the society of Polish endourologists, especially due to the fact that the invitation was cordially welcomed by the famous specialistis, such as prof. Olivier Traxer (Paris), prof. Cesare Scoffone (Torino), prof. Andreas Skolarikos (Athens), prof. Atanasios Papatsoris (Athens), prof. Mario Sofer (Telaviv), Mr G.S.Kata (UK), Prof. Evangelos N. Liatsikos (Patras).

Our aim is to conduct 10 operations performed with the newest available endoscopic equipment from Olympus and Storz, which are co-organizers, during the two-day workshops. The partners are also Cook Polska and EMS Swiss. Finally, during the sessions there will be time for discussion and lectures on practical issues provided.

I am honored and truly pleased to send you that invitation for participation in international endourological workshops to be held in Miedzylesie in the spring 2016.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Artur A.Antoniewicz and the team