Dear Colleague
Pelvic floor surgery has been a controversial focus of the medical, legal, and political world for the last few years, especially with the problems associated with surgically implantable permanent materials. For women who have been injured and suffer problems, we must continue to provide solutions to improve their health and recognise the issues that led to these problems. Loss of quality of life from pelvic floor damage due to ageing and childbirth will never disappear and we must look to new, collegiate and evidence-based methods of diagnosing, managing and understanding this critical area of gynaecological surgery. On behalf of the Board of the Australasian Gynaecological Endoscopy and Surgery Society and our local organising committee, we are delighted to invite you to visit Brisbane for the 19th Annual AGES Pelvic Floor Symposium and Workshop.
The symposium, “More than Gynaecology”, is a multidisciplinary approach to pelvic floor medicine, with clinical care at its core and surgical techniques are scrutinised to reveal their current and potential future roles in addressing pelvic floor symptoms. We need to continue to be forward looking, constantly questioning and more collaborative to improve the health outcomes of the women we care for. By working in multi-disciplinary teams with allied health professionals, scientists, colorectal specialist and urologists we can collectively learn and advance: ways to improve the health and quality of life of women with pelvic disorders
Our program will focus on the importance of the specialist gynaecologist surgeon and their role in the front-line management of pelvic floor problems – a founding pillar of our training and knowledge. The interprofessional collaboration with the subspecialist uro-gynaecologists, advances and recent changes in pelvic floor surgery, options for management of urinary incontinence possibly without suburethral slings, upskilling in pelvic floor surgical techniques and methods of teaching surgery to colleagues and trainees in the operating theatre environment will all be core elements of the symposium. Pelvic pain management in women with and without pelvic mesh will be explained, explored and analysed and an essential update on the current surgical mesh situation in Australia, New Zealand will be presented. Finally, the management and prevention of obstetric perineal trauma will be explored and debated with an assembled faculty of Australian and International colleagues.
Our invited faculty includes Dr. G Willy Davila (USA), Prof. Don Wilson (NZ), Prof. Lorimer Moseley (Aust), Colorectal surgeons, Prof. Mark Coleman (UK), and Dr. Tom Cecil (UK). As always, you are invited to be a part of this innovative programme by submitting your free communications for the symposium.
Take the opportunity while in Brisbane to partake in many of the outdoor activities the city is known for. Whether it be an early morning cycle around the Brisbane, bush walking in national parks, exploring rooftop bars or push the boat out and compete in the Brisbane Marathon Festival on 5th August. We can guarantee that you won’t be disappointed.
This years AGES pelvic floor symposium is one of positivity and necessity. Pelvic floor issues for women remain a huge burden of illness and we must look beyond the current controversies and focus on solving the problems for women. Our role as a specialist gynaecological surgeon has never been more important and this meeting is one that celebrates collaboration, education and collegiality. We look forward to seeing you in Brisbane in August where we are confident you will enjoy an entertaining and educational meeting with practical approaches to improve the lives of the women we care for through a multidisciplinary approach.
Ajay
Prof Ajay Rane
AGES Pelvic Floor Chair
Michael
Dr Michael Wynn-Williams
AGES Board member
