Date: 24–26 November 2026
Congress Hall: Hotel Habakuk, Maribor, Slovenia
The venue was selected for its congress facilities, appropriate lecture hall capacity, technical infrastructure and accessibility. Spa, wellness, leisure and recreational services are not included in the event programme or registration fee.
Coffee breaks and refreshments are included in the registration fee for registered delegates only and will be provided in the congress area during the official programme.
TUESDAY, 24 November (Grand Hall)
Registration (15:00–16:00)
Opening Address (16:00–16:10)
Krebs B. President of the Slovenian Association for Endoscopic Surgery.
Opening Lectures (16:10–18:05)
Chair: Krebs B, Tomažič A, Ivanecz A
1. Ivanecz A. Congress overview
2. Edhemović I. UEMS European Board of Surgery Qualification
3. Zelić M. Center for Digestive and Metabolic Medicine (CDDM) – a necessary change for better treatment outcomes
4. Pekolj J. Accepting robotic HPB surgery: the challenge
5. Grosek J. Ethical dilemmas in foregoing surgical treatment
6. Arulampalam T. TA
7. Dokmak S. TA
BREAK
Welcome Addresses and Opening Ceremony (18:30–19:30)
Ivanecz A
Arsenović S. Welcome address by the Mayor of the Municipality of Maribor.
Flis V. Director of University Medical Centre Maribor.
Takač I. Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor.
Crnjac A. Head of the Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor.
Potrč S. Head of the Clinical Department of Abdominal and General Surgery, UMC Maribor.
Informal networking for registered delegates (19:30)
Organizer:
Slovenian Association for Endoscopic Surgery (ZEKS)
Clinical Department of Abdominal and General Surgery (KOASK)
University Medical Centre Maribor
Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor
Scientific and Organizing Committee: prof. dr. Bojan Krebs, MD, specialist surgeon; prof. dr. Arpad Ivanecz, MD, specialist surgeon; assist. prof. dr. Tomaž Jagrič, MD, specialist surgeon; assist. prof. dr. Matjaž Horvat, MD, specialist surgeon; prof. dr. Stojan Potrč, MD, specialist surgeon; assist. prof. dr. Nuhi Arslani, MD, specialist surgeon; Marko Hazabent, MD, specialist surgeon; Bojan Ilijevec, MD, specialist surgeon; assist. prof. dr. Irena Plahuta, MD, specialist surgeon; Tomislav Magdalenić, MD, specialist surgeon.
WEDNESDAY, 25 November (Grand Hall)
07:30–08:00 Arrival and Registration, Morning Refreshments
Esophagus and Stomach (08:00–10:00)
Chair: Jagrič T, Sever P, Bijelović M
1. Papp A. Building a Robotic Esophageal Surgery Program: Early Experience and Clinical Insights
2. Bijelović M. TA
3. Jagrič T. Laparoscopic Approach to Proximal Gastric Cancer Using ArtiSential™ Articulated Instruments: A Comparative Study of 145 Laparoscopic Gastrectomies
4. Sever P. Management of anastomotic dehiscence after gastrectomy
5. Stefanović S. Endoscopic treatment of subepithelial lesions in the gastrointestinal tract
6. Tóth D. Individualized, stage-adapted minimally invasive surgery in gastric cancer
7. Salobir J. Gastric cancer surgery in high-volume centers improves long-term survival: experience from Slovenia
8. Salobir J. Minimally invasive excision of gastric GIST with tumor eversion: presentation of techniques
9. Belev N. Standardized laparoscopic surgery for advanced gastric cancer: a prospective study
10. Dodić D, Ocepek A. Endoscopic gastrostomy: from theory to practice
09:40–10:00 DISCUSSION
10:00–10:15 BREAK
HPB Liver (10:15–12:15)
Chair: Ivanecz A, Galun D, Milošević Z, Bjørn E
1. Ivanecz A. Laparoscopic Liver Resections: Strategies for Avoiding Complications
2. Rahbari NN. Robotic Hepatectomy: Innovations and Outcomes
3. Edwin B. Minimally Invasive Liver Surgery: Is Ablation Taking Over? (15 min)
4. Vladov N. Laparoscopic liver resections in patients with colorectal liver metastases
5. Petrić M. Robotic liver resection: does it provide better treatment outcomes for the patient?
6. Belev N. Experience with highly challenging laparoscopic liver resection in general surgery unit
7. Mihaylov V. Robot in HPB Surgery
8. Pekolj J. Laparoscopic management of hydatid liver cyst
9. Pekolj J. Tips & Tricks of laparoscopic liver resection
11:55–12:15 DISCUSSION
12:15–12:30 BREAK
HPB Pancreas (12:30–14:30)
Chair: Potrč S, Tomažič A, Radenković D
1. Uranues S. Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy with splenic vessel preservation and techniques preventing POPF
2. Mikulić D. Surgery for IPMN of the pancreas – minimally invasive approach
3. Novak J. Optimal treatment outcome after pancreatic resections – the role of the COMPOS questionnaire
4. Badovinac D. The impact of pancreatic transection using the CUSA system on the incidence of POPF – presentation of preliminary results of a randomized controlled prospective study
5. Ilijevec B. Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy: is splenectomy required?
6. Belev N. Laparoscopic duodeno-pancreatic resections: tips and tricks
7. Zavratnik Čarni H. Electrochemotherapy of the posterior resection surface in pancreatic cancer – long-term results
8. Szücs Á. TA
9. Rakić M. Lymphadenectomy for pancreatic cancer
10. Protić M. Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy
14:20–14:30 DISCUSSION
14:30–15:30 LUNCH
(Lunch is included in the registration fee for registered delegates only.)
Colon and Rectum I (15:30–17:30)
Chair: Krebs B, DeManzini N, Grosek J
1. Krebs B. Watch and wait protocol in rectal cancer (15 min)
2. Grosek J. Robot-assisted TME and CME in the treatment of colorectal cancer
3. Stipančić I. Evidence-based strategies to prevent anastomotic leak in colorectal surgery
4. DeManzini N. TA (15 min)
5. Ferko A, Škrovina M, Hadbávny B. Anastomotic dehiscence of colorectal anastomosis: Is double-stapled anastomosis associated with higher risk? (15 min)
6. Karlović D. Very Low Rectal Cancer: Choosing the Optimal Surgical Approach in the Era of Minimally Invasive Techniques
7. Brecelj E. Transperineal ultrasound-guided surgical approach to the treatment of local pelvic recurrences
8. Rakić M. Surgical treatment of colorectal metastases
17:20–17:30 DISCUSSION
17:30–17:45 BREAK
Colon and Rectum II: Presentation of Results (17:45–19:00)
Chair: Norčič G, Edhemović I, Ferko A
1. Gluhović A. Turnbull-Cutait delayed coloanal anastomosis after laparoscopic low anterior resection – new indication for well-known salvage principle
2. Cankoski D. Treatment of anastomotic leakage after low anterior resection of rectum
3. Marolt U. Short- and long-term outcomes following anastomotic leakage after rectal cancer surgery: a single-center retrospective cohort study
4. Čeranić M. The Surgical Management of Complicated Diverticulitis: Revisiting the Indications for Primary Anastomosis in the Era of Minimally Invasive Surgery
5. Petrič R. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol for patients with colorectal cancer
6. Papinutti A. Comprehensive rehabilitation of patients with colorectal cancer
18:45–19:00 DISCUSSION
19:30 Dinner
(Dinner is included in the registration fee for registered delegates only. It will be a seated congress dinner without entertainment, live music, dancing, leisure, sightseeing or touristic activities. Accompanying persons are not included.)
THURSDAY, 26 November (Grand Hall)
08:00–08:30 Arrival and Registration, Morning Refreshments
Morbid Obesity (08:30–09:30) 5×10 min
Chair: Pintar T, Kunst G, Jovanović B
1. Pintar T. TA
2. Jovanović B. TA
3. Kunst G. Revisional procedures after metabolic and bariatric surgery
4. TA
5. Magdalenić T. Management of complications after bariatric surgery – case presentations
09:20–09:30 DISCUSSION
09:30–09:45 BREAK
Gallstones and Their Complications (09:45–12:15)
Chair: Ivanecz A, Trotovšek B, Szijártó A
1. Rifatbegović Z. Difficult Cholecystectomy: Risk Stratification and Bailout Techniques
2. Plahuta I. Surgical repair of bile duct injuries due to cholecystectomy – a report from a referral center in Maribor, Slovenia
3. Lovrenčič Petreski B, Koren Z. Management of patients with acute cholecystitis at General Hospital Ptuj (5 min)
4. Plevel D, Đokić M. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute inflammation in elderly patients – rationale, safety and complications: presentation of results from UMC Ljubljana
5. Pekolj J. Role of MIS in the management of bile duct injuries (15 min)
6. Galun D. Laparoscopic management of common bile duct stones – towards T-tube free procedure
7. Ocepek A. Cholangioscopy: theoretical aspects and single center experience
8. TA. Liver transplantation after bile duct injury – it can be a reality
9. Takorov I. Laparoscopic treatment of gallbladder cancer
10. Novak J, Đokić M. Minimally invasive surgery for gallbladder cancer: literature review and treatment outcomes
11:55–12:15 DISCUSSION
12:15–12:30 BREAK
Emergency Surgery (12:30–13:30)
Chair: Horvat M, Grosek J, Zovak M
1. Uranues S. Laparoscopic partial splenectomy – indications and technique
2. Horvat G. Splenic cysts – a critical view of indications for treatment and treatment modalities
3. Janež J. Laparoscopic placement of a peritoneal dialysis catheter: technique and results at UMC Ljubljana
4. Uranues S. Laparoscopy in abdominal trauma – when and how?
5. Košir JA. Surgical principles in the treatment of intestinal failure
6. Rakić M. Surgical treatment of abdominal liposarcoma
7. Kotnik A. Damage control approach in abdominal surgery: a case report (5 min)
8. Lovrenčič Petreski B, Koren Z. Management of patients with acute appendicitis at General Hospital Ptuj (5 min)
9. Bukovnik N. An unexpected cause of intestinal obstruction – endoscopic solution or scalpel?
13:20–13:30 DISCUSSION
Satellite Symposium: Colorectal procedures with the Hugo RAS System (13:30–14:30)
14:30–15:30 LUNCH
(Lunch is included in the registration fee for registered delegates only.)
Hernias (15:30–17:30)
Chair: Hubad A, Kunst G, Gorjanc J
1. Gorjanc J. Minimally invasive surgery for abdominal hernias: what do the guidelines mean in practice?
2. Kunst G. Re-TAPP
3. Delibegović S. Endoscopic hernia surgery
4. Jagrič T. Results of Minimally Invasive Treatment of rectus abdominis muscle diastasis with the SCOLA Method
5. Mateska Gelebeševa T, Bunič M, Avguštin M, Jakomin T, Sojar V. Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in a one-day surgery unit
6. Gluhović A. Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair – from IPOM to PeTEP
7. Sojar V, Bunič M. Advantages and limitations of laparoscopic procedures in a one-day surgery unit
8. Hubad A. Robotic abdominal wall surgery – analysis of five years of experience at UMC Ljubljana
9. Mynt J. Robotic hernia repair
10. Rožej B. Hiatal hernias – experience from General Hospital Slovenj Gradec
17:20–17:30 DISCUSSION
17:30–17:45 BREAK
Proctology (17:45–19:00)
Chair: Norčič G, Mlakar B, Koren Z
1. Karlović D. Treatment of Complex Anal Fistulas: From the Implementation of Sphincter-Preserving Techniques in Everyday Practice to the Development of a Novel Approach – ASGIIFT
2. Sotler J. The role of a tertiary multidisciplinary board for pelvic floor diseases and disorders
3. Kogovšek U. Indications for high-resolution anoscopy (HRA) in abdominal surgery – review of guidelines and clinical use
4. Karlović D. A Staged Multidisciplinary Surgical Algorithm for Severe Hurley Stage III Hidradenitis Suppurativa: From Fistuloscopy-Guided Disease Control to Delayed Definitive Excision
5. Gluhović A. Use of diode laser in one day proctology surgery
6. Karlović D. Pelvic Floor Surgery: From Elective Functional Reconstruction to Post-Traumatic Repair – A Multidimensional Approach
18:45–19:00 DISCUSSION
19:00 Closing of the Congress