Successful Thoracic Surgery Congress: Experience innovations live!

Successful Thoracic Surgery Congress: Experience innovations live!

The 9th Uniportal VATS Congress in Potsdam was a complete success and once again proved how important the further development of thoracic surgery is. The event took place on July 17, 2025, organized by the Ernst von Bergmann Clinic in close collaboration with the Charité Competence Center for Thoracic Surgery and various international partners. With participants from over 17 countries, including Australia, China, Costa Rica and the USA, the event became a true melting pot of expertise.

A highlight of the conference were the live broadcasts of two complex operations carried out by the renowned surgeons MUDr. Mahmoud Ismail and Diego Gonzalez Rivas. These broadcasts enabled participants to ask questions and exchange ideas directly with the surgeons. Such an interactive format is rare and was celebrated by experts as a major step towards improved interdisciplinary dialogue in surgery. MUDr. Ismail highlighted the value of the wetlab, which is a particular rarity at conferences and deepens practical application in an innovative way.

Practical exercises and the latest procedures

The conference offered an extensive program with a drylab and wetlab area in which participants could try out new thoracic surgical procedures on simulators at five different stations. This practice-oriented approach combines theoretical knowledge with practical learning and sets standards in international exchange and clinical practice. As Diego Gonzalez Rivas underlined, this integration of theory and practice brings with it high standards for the transfer of innovative techniques.

A central topic that came up in many conversations during the congress was uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopy (Uniportal VATS). This modern method works with a small skin incision of just three centimeters and enables precise orientation using a camera. The benefits are many: reduced pain, faster recovery and shorter hospital stays. All of this is particularly important for the treatment of oncological diseases, an area on which the Ernst von Bergmann Group places a particular focus.

A strong team for patient care

Behind these innovations is a dedicated interdisciplinary team in the Thoracic Surgery Clinic at the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKS). Here, pulmonologists, oncologists, surgeons, radiologists and specialized nursing staff work hand in hand to develop individually tailored treatment plans. Your goal is to manage complex thoracic diseases effectively and competently in order to achieve the best possible results for patients.

Overall, the congress not only highlighted important advances in thoracic surgery, but also the enormous potential that lies in international collaboration. It remains exciting to observe how these developments will shape patient care in the field of pulmonary medicine in the future. Anyone who would like to find out more about the latest treatment options is warmly invited to find out more in the Thoracic Surgery Clinic at the UKS.

For more information about the event and the techniques presented, visit Meetingpoint Potsdam, EvB Gesundheit and UKS Klinik für Thoracic surgery.