An EUROSON School in Berlin - on Interventional Ultrasonography

Following our EFSUMB regulations, a successful three day EUROSON School was held May 27-29 2010 in the centre of Berlin. Covering all aspects in diagnostic and therapeutic interventional ultrasonography, it was organized primarily by the DEGUM Section of Interventional Ultrasound and the Berlin-Brandenburg Society of Ultrasound. ISCUS (The International School of Clinical Ultrasonography) cooperated, as well.

Fifty participating trainees from Europe (including Austria, Benelux countries, Czech Republic, England, Lithuania, Romania, and Germany) and from the Near East (Israel, Libya) were present.

The EUROSON School was opened with a media conference with a good attendance from press, radio, and TV, to achieve adequate public attention to ultrasound interventions as an important part of modern medicine. Meanwhile, a good number of printed publications and other reports on the EUROSON School have been edited.

All lectures, demonstrations, and discussions were carried out by an international team of experts - our special thanks are given to Franca Meloni (Milano/Italy), Ioan Sporea (Timisoara/ Romania), Franticek Zatura (Praha/Czech Republic), Torben Lorentzen (Copenhagen/Denmark), and all others, including the specialists from Germany.

Day one started with impressive demonstrations and lectures on general aspects such as preconditions and indications in interventions, and the spectre of potential complications. Some of the demonstrations had a specific historical background in that they were carried out by their initiators - unrepeatable moments.

Day two covered aspects in microbiology and hygienics, imaging modalities, puncturing techniques, instrumentation, and new techniques in development. Hands on practical training on aspic aquarium models was met with enthusiasm, including exercises both in diagnostics - hit the target! -, and in therapeutics with drainage intervention techniques. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and contrast enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and their impact on interventions were presented and discussed intensively.

Day three gave an opportunity to discuss these modern technologies in even more depth, including unusual EUS draining accesses to the biliary tree, and of the main pancreatic duct, as well as complex interventions in symptomatic pancreatic pseudocysts. A specialized industry exhibition offered further information on machines and materials.

A well organized social program - to share some of the events in the capitals gastronomical and cultural life - favourably completed these days, which left a prime impression in the evaluation questionnaires, and which gives rise for planning for a 2011 EUROSON School.

Thanks again to all participants, teachers, and coworkers!