Chairs: Shailesh P. Puntambekar, Marcello Ceccaroni
Faculty: Giovanni Roviglione, Gaby N. Moawad, Sarah Choi, Humberto J. Dionisi, Shanti I. Mohling, Andrea Vidali

Course Description
Laparoscopic surgery for benign and deeply infiltrative diseases represents a difficult and challenging issue for pelvic surgeons. A precise knowledge of pelvic surgical anatomy and the achievement of a know-how for navigating the retroperitoneal spaces and structures, provide a powerful tool to formulate a well-planned treatment strategy for a successful and safe surgery.

A skilled laparoscopic surgeon is the one who is able to dominate the surgical field with no fear, achieving the perception of retroperitoneum as his “best friend.” The golden word for that is: “ANATOMY.” 

A panel of teachers from the International School of Surgical Anatomy (ISSA) of Verona, Italy, directed by Dr. Marcello Ceccaroni and Dr. Shailesh Puntambekar, will be delighted to share its experiences with you. 

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this course, the clinician will be able to: 1) Recognize the anatomical landmarks and major pelvic structures pertinent to gynecologic laparoscopy and retroperitoneal dissection for basic, intermediate, and advanced procedures; 2) Understand laparoscopic surgical techniques to enter and expose avascular spaces of the pelvis, parametrial ligaments, nerves and pelvic vessels and their relations to the ureter and retroperitoneal structures; and 3) Understand the principles of a nerve-sparing “philosophy” and the step-by-step dissection of the uterine artery and the pelvic ureter related to the different gynecological retroperitoneal procedures (i.e. big uteri, infraligamentary myomas, deep endometriosis, and gynecologic cancers).

Course Outline

9:15am - Welcome, Introduction and Course Overview - Chairs

9:15am - The Perfect Navigation: Cartography of the Pelvis and Retroperitoneum for a Safe Minimally Invasive Navigation
Gaby N. Moawad, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecology, George Washington University, Washington, DC

9:30am - How to Make It Easy: Minimally Invasive Surgical Anatomy for a Safe Hysterectomy Step-By-Step, in Different Settings
Shanti I. Mohling, MD, Northwest Endometriosis and Pelvic Surgery, Portland, OR

9:45am - The Journey of Parametrial Surgery: Surgical Anatomy of Parametrial Ligaments and Its Importance in Radical Hysterectomy and Uterine Transplant
Shailesh P. Puntambekar, MD, PhD, Galaxy Care Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India

10:00am - Diving and Sailing Along the Big Vessels: Surgical Anatomy of Pelvic and Para-Aortic Retroperitoneum for a Safe Radical Surgery
Giovanni Roviglione, MD, Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, Verona, Italy

10:15am - Friends Will be Friends: When the Surgeon Meets the Ureter and the Bladder. Tips and Tricks for a Safe Minimally Invasive Pelvic Surgery
Humberto J. Dionisi, MD, Cedem, Cordoba, Argentina

10:30am - Learning to Fly Around the Rectal Wings: Minimally Invasive Surgical Anatomy of the Rectum and Its Ligaments (Recto-Vaginal Septum, Sacro-Uterine, Recto-Vaginal, and Lateral Rectal Ligaments) for a Safe Radical Gynecologic Surgery
Sarah Choi, MD, Sydney Women's Endosurgery Centre, St. George Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia

10:45am - Have You Ever Been to Electric Ladyland? Laparoscopic Surgical Anatomy of Visceral and Somatic Pelvic Innervation for a Safe and Nerve-Sparing Radical Pelvic Surgery
Marcello Ceccaroni, MD, PhD, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital; International School of Surgical Anatomy, Negrar di Valpolicella (Verona), Italy

11:00am - The Dark Side of the Moon: Anatomical Landmarks for Minimally Invasive Abdominal Approach to the Diaphragm
Andrea Vidali, MD, Hoboken University Medical Center, Hoboken, NJ

11:15am - Adjourn