Focus On – Mini-Invasive Surgery
19/10/2026 - 21/10/2026 Istanbul / Turkey
Focus On – Mini-Invasive Surgery
Advanced Small Animal Laparoscopy MasterClass 1 (Gastropexies, cholecystectomy, Hernias, ICG)
Program Director:
Principal Course Master(s):
Dr. Bart Van Goethem, Dipl. ECVS (BE)
Course Master(s):
Instructor(s):
Course Overview
The intensive three-day Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery Masterclass tailored for veterinary professionals with prior experience in small animal laparoscopy. This course combines cutting-edge instruction with immersive hands-on training to help you refine your skills and apply advanced minimally invasive techniques with confidence and precision.
Led by a team of internationally renowned surgical experts, the masterclass offers a progressive learning journey, starting with dry-lab simulations and culminating in live-animal procedures under real surgical conditions. You will gain personalized guidance throughout, allowing for deep skill acquisition in a supportive, high-level learning environment.
Course Format:
• Day 1: Didactic sessions and hands-on training with dry-lab setups and ex-vivo models, focusing on advanced suturing and ligation techniques.
• Day 2: Morning theoretical sessions and case discussions, followed by practical exercises on canine cadavers in the afternoon.
• Day 3: Full-day live-animal lab with anesthetized pigs, providing a realistic surgical experience and the opportunity to perform complete procedures.
This course is specifically designed for veterinarians with established experience in small animal laparoscopy seeking to elevate their expertise to an advanced level.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this MasterClass, participants will be able to:
1. Master Suturing Techniques:
o Understand the physics and ergonomics of suturing in minimally invasive surgery.
o Execute extra-corporeal and intra-corporeal suturing techniques.
o Demonstrate proficiency with barbed sutures in laparoscopic tasks
2. Perform Laparoscopic Gastropexy:
o Evaluate and apply different suturing techniques
o Assess alternative port positions and integrate single-port or combined techniques.
3. Understand and Manage diaphragmatic and hiatal hernia Treatments:
o Identify indications and techniques for repairing diaphragmatic and hiatal hernias.
4. Perform Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy:
o Analyze medical backgrounds and make informed case selections.
o Differentiate between traditional and sub-serosal techniques for cholecystectomy.
o Conduct normograde and antegrade dissections with confidence.
o Utilize choledochoscopy and catheterization of the common bile duct (CBD) effectively.
5. Apply Techniques in Wet Labs:
o Perform hiatal hernia repair, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, gastropexy, and diaphragmatic hernia repairs in a cadaver and live surgical model.
o Apply laparoscopic techniques in a real-time environment to improve dexterity and decision-making.
These learning outcomes are designed to ensure participants develop both the theoretical knowledge and practical expertise required to excel in advanced laparoscopic procedures.
Course Program (Subject to change)
Monday, 19 October 2026: Lectures and dry-labs
08:30 – 09:00 Welcome and course overview
09:00 – 10:00 Intracorporeal suturing techniques:
– Physics and ergonomics
– How to make a secure knot
– Single-handed and double-handed techniques
– Barbed suture
10:00 – 11:00 Laparoscopic gastropexy:
– Normal or barbed sutures, endo-stitch and others
– Alternative port positions, single-ports, combination with lap ove
11:00 – 11:30 Coffee Break
11:30 – 12:15 Laparoscopic diaphragmatic hernia repair:
– Indications and techniques
– Peritoneo-pericardial, peritoneo-pleural and diaphragmatic eventration
– Inguinal hernia
12:15 – 13:00 Laparoscopic hiatal herniorrhaphy
– Indications and techniques
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch Break
14:00 – 14:15 Clinical cases discussion
14:15 – 17:30 Hands on session on simulators: intracorporeal suturing techniques
– 10 tables – 9 standard, 2 POP, 1 demo
– Warm-up with dry lab exercises
– Intra-corporeal techniques
– The particularities of barbed sutures
– Liver cholecystectomy
Evening Social Dinner (DoubleTree by Hilton Topkapi)
Tuesday, 20 October 2026: Advanced procedures
08:30 – 09:00 Introduction to NIRF-ICG in laparoscopy
09:00 – 10:00 Laparoscopic cholecystectomy:
– Medical background & case selection
– Traditional versus sub-serosal
– Normograde or antegrade dissection
10:00 – 10:30 Laparoscopic EHBO treatment:
– Choledochoscopy
– CBD catheterization
10:30 – 1:00 Clinical cases discussion including complications and troubleshooting
11:00 – 11:30 Coffee Break
11:30 – 13:00 Hands-on cadaver laboratory: cholecystectomy
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch Break
14:00 – 17:00 Hands-on cadaver laboratory: suturing techniques
– Hiatal hernia and gastropexies, right and left
– Suturing exercise: continuous enterotomy
– Optional: single-port platforms (operative laparoscope, glove port, SILS and more), and dissection trial (ultra-sound dissector versus bipolar vessel-sealing device)
Wednesday, 21 October 2026: Laboratory on Anesthetized pigs
09:00 – 11:00 Hands-on live-pig laboratory
– Cholecystectomy
– Hiatal herniorrhaphy
11:00 – 11:30 Coffee Break
11:30 – 13:00 Hands-on live-pig laboratory
– Diaphragmatic herniorrhaphy
– Gastropexy
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch Break & Course evaluation
14:00 – 15:00 Hands-on session: advanced simulator laboratory
– Advanced suturing exercise: enterotomy
15:00 – 16:00 Debriefing, wrap-up, lunch break and farewell
Focus On – Mini-Invasive Surgery
Date:
19/10/2026 - 21/10/2026Location:
Istanbul / TurkeyVenue:
RMK AIMES, Koç University Hospital Davutpaşa Caddesi No:4, 34010, Topkapı, Istanbul, Turkey
19/10/2026 - 21/10/2026Location:
Istanbul / TurkeyVenue:
RMK AIMES, Koç University Hospital Davutpaşa Caddesi No:4, 34010, Topkapı, Istanbul, Turkey
Tuition fee*:
EUR 3.650.-
Early registration fee*:
EUR 3.550.-
Early registration deadline:
01/06/2026
Disdcount resident fee:
EUR 2.560.-
Total hours:
TBA
ATF hours (AU, DE, LU, CH):
TBA
ECTS credits (Master & Certificate):
* eLibrary access is included in the course fee
