For the first time in Montreal - More than 2000 world expert surgeons gather to discuss the latest findings on surgical cures for obesity and type-2 diabetes.
MONTREAL, Aug. 26, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - For several decades, Montreal and Quebec have been at the forefront of weight loss surgery. The Palais des Congres will host the 19th World Congress of the International Federation for Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic disorders, August 26-30th, 2014. More than 2000 international surgeons coming from 78 countries will exchange the latest findings on new technologies, as well as assist in nearly 50 live surgical interventions from around the world.
Several Canadian surgeons are featured during the congress. Amongst them are two named lecturers: Picard Marceau from Quebec City, a pioneer of duodenal switch, and Professor Arya Sharma, founder of the Canadian Obesity Network, will talk on the effect of surgery on future children, and if obesity should now be considered a disease.
The IFSO meeting is a great opportunity to present the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to obesity and type-2 diabetes. One Canadian in 4 is affected by obesity, while 1 child in 10 suffers from the disease. As for diabetes, 2.6 million Canadians, amongst 382 millions worldwide are affected. We want to sensitize the public to the notion that surgery is only sought for less than 1% of surgical candidates, and billions of dollars could be saved in national health systems if surgery was sought more often, according to Dr Michel Gagner, president of the IFSO congress, a world-renowned expert in laparoscopic and bariatric surgery.
New Advances in the treatment of type-2 diabetes
During the IFSO 2014 meeting, several new treatments that offer a cure will be presented and discussed. Several new interventions already in place in Asia, a continent with over 200 million affected diabetics, are being proposed especially in non-obese subjects. Especially important is the fact that these populations cannot afford expensive new medications; surgery has the potential to result in huge economical savings, and in the long-term decreases drug intake, dialysis, kidney transplantation, limb amputations, blindness and cancer. Once established protocols are set, these surgical interventions will soon take root in Western countries confirmed Prof. Gagner, who has pioneered sleeve gastrectomy, the most frequently performed surgery for obesity and diabetes worldwide.
Nearly 50 live surgeries will be performed
Apart from more than 800 various presentations, about 50 live surgical interventions will be transmitted to the Palais des Congres in Montreal, the largest number of such interventions ever done during such a congress, from operating rooms in Chile, Colombia, Brazil, India, Europe, USA, Japan and Canada/Quebec. Several surgeons will be performing new operations, using new devices and tools never shown before, to cure obesity and diabetes. Amongst these will be new bowel transpositions methods, orally inserted plastic sheaths, swallowable balloons, and other exciting non-approved experimental procedures.
To know more about these live surgeries and content from IFSO 2014, please consult the congress website at www.ifso2014.com
About IFSO
The International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) is a federation composed of national associations of bariatric surgeons. Currently, there are 60 official member associations of IFSO and more than 8,000 members. There are also individual members from countries that thus far have not formed a national association.
IFSO has been mainly a scientific organization, bringing together surgeons and allied health professionals, such as nurse practitioners, dieticians, nutritionists, psychologists, internists and anesthesiologists, involved in the treatment of morbidly obese patients, but in the upcoming years, IFSO will maintain and extend its roll in the challenge of bariatric surgery.
SOURCE: IFSO
Information and interviews with Dr Michel Gagner, Marie-Pier Côté, [email protected], 418 999-4847
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