26219: How to Become a Sailor and Not a Pirate: Tips and Tricks in Minimally-Invasive Retroperitoneal Surgical Anatomy to Perform Safe Gynecologic Surgery 7th International School of Surgical Anatomy (ISSA) Course

Friday, November 13, 2026
10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Room: RM302

Chairs: Marcello Ceccaroni, Shailesh Puntambekar

Faculty: Marcello Ceccaroni, Giovanni Roviglione, Shailesh Puntambekar, Javier Magrina

Description: Minimally-invasive 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 with no fear the surgical field, achieving the perception of retroperitoneum as his "best friend". The golden word for that is: "ANATOMY". A panel of teachers of the International School of Surgical Anatomy (ISSA) of Verona (Italy), directed by Dr. Marcello Ceccaroni, will be delighted to share its experiences with you. 

Learning Objectives: At the end of this course, the participant will be able to:

1. Recognize the anatomical landmarks and major pelvic structures pertinent to gynecologic minimally-invasive surgery and retroperitoneal dissection for basic, intermediate and advances procedures
2. Understand minimally-invasive 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
3. Understand the principles of a nerve-sparing "philosophy", the step-by-step dissection of the uterine artery and the pelvic ureter related to the different gynecological retroperitoneal procedures (i.e. big utery, infraligamentary myomas, deep endometriosis and gynecologic cancers)

COURSE OUTLINE

10:00 AM Welcome, Introduction and Course Overview

M. Ceccaroni

10:05 AM "Put Some Anatomy and Make It Easier:" Minimally-Invasive Surgical Anatomy for a Safe Hysterectomy Step-By-Step In Easy and Difficult Settings

G. Roviglione

10:30 AM “Friends Will be Friends:” When the Surgeon Meets the Deep Pelvic Spaces, the Parametrial Ligaments and the Ureter. Tips and Tricks for a Safe Minimally-Invasive Pelvic Surgery

S. Puntambekar

10:55 AM "Navigating Through the Electric Storm?" Principles of Neurogynecology and Surgical Anatomy of Visceral and Somatic Pelvic Innervation for a Safe Basic and Radical Surgery

M. Ceccaroni

11:20 AM "With a Little Help from My Friends": How Anatomy Can Help the Surgeon In Preventing and Managing Complications

J. Magrina

11:45 AM Discussion Questions & Answers

12:00 PM Adjourn