In this lecture, professor Joseph S. Solomkin reviews the clinical and epidemiological impact of resistance in surgical patients, focusing on complicated intra-abdominal infections and the factors that can limit the consequences of different types of antimicrobial resistance in these patients.

Malin Sund, Professor at Umea University, Sweden, explains the basics of writing a good clinical paper and gives some tips and tricks to draft a manuscript.

In this lecture, Dr. Jin-Cheon Kim focuses on the robotic treatment of low rectal cancer. To improve surgeon training and intraoperative performance, this lecture finishes with an elegant transabdominal inter-sphincteric resection video.

The use of open abdomen in non-trauma patients has not been standarized. Dr. Sartelli shows us the evidence that has been published regarding this therapeutic option.

During the congress of the Surgical Infection Society in Europe (SIS-E) held in Athens in June 2018, Dr. Boermeester discussed the treatment of intestinal fistulas and complex abdomen, including prevention, causes, and both conservative vs surgical treatments.

Surgical site infection (SSI) is a common type of healthcare-associated infection which adds considerably to the individual, social, and economic costs of surgical treatment. In this lecture, professor Joseph S. Solomkin reviews the current results regarding mechanical bowel preparation and SSI , and gives some final recommendations on this controversial topic.

Up to 60% of bariatric patients present with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and approximately 20% will develop de novo GERD after bariatric surgery, particularly after a sleeve gastrectomy. Several treatment regimes have been proposed and revisional surgery is one of them. In this IFSO Symposium, two clinical cases are discussed.

Based on the current literature, Dr. Jordi Vidal provides an update on the current situation of Indocyanine Green (ICG) fluorescence angiography for real-time intraoperative evaluation of parathyroid perfusion.

Dr. Farhat Din, senior clinical fellow and consultant at the Cancer Research Edinburgh Centre, summarizes in this talk the main genetic mutations associated with colorectal cancer, their diagnosis, treatment and surveillance, as well as their impact on the therapeutic oncologic response.

Dr. Delaney discussed the future of rectal cancer management during the 5th International Controversies in Rectal Cancer Surgery Conference Dates held in London in October 2017. In this lecture he discusses many factors which will set the pathway of rectal cancer management including microbiome, watch & wait protocols, technique standardization, and national accreditation programs for rectal cancer.