The Second International Congress of Emergency Surgery successfully realized in Belgrade
Dear Colleagues,
The Second International Congress of Emergency Surgery was successfully realized in Belgrade. Proudly hosted by the Serbian Society of Emergency Surgery (SUUH), the congress was held at the Sava Center. Based on its accreditation by the Health Council of Serbia (under registration number A-1-991/26), alongside the outstanding credentials of its lecturers and reviewers, the event was officially designated as an international gathering, awarding the maximum number of continuing education points to its participants.
Education as an Imperative in Times of Challenge
Continuous education is essential because an emergency surgical condition can affect anyone, at any time of the day or night. As witnesses to major natural and social disasters, we face daily challenges that make establishing a functional emergency response system an absolute necessity. In light of current global events, the importance of education in the field of emergency surgical trauma and mass casualty management is immeasurable.
Medical personnel are exposed daily to stressful and complex scenarios where making the right decision rapidly is critical for patients whose lives are under immediate threat. Patients with an acute emergency surgical condition or trauma do not have the luxury of time to choose their physician, hospital, or the city where they will be treated. Therefore, it is imperative for all physicians to master not only diagnostic, surgical, and therapeutic skills, but also so-called “soft” (non-technical) skills—such as decision-making under pressure, operating in stressful environments, leadership, and teamwork. This is the only way to ensure patients receive adequate care and the best possible treatment outcomes.
A Multidisciplinary Approach and Impressive Figures
The congress adopted a multidisciplinary approach, highlighting the most current challenges and dilemmas encountered in daily practice across various specialties. It brought together surgeons, anesthesiologists, radiologists, specialists, residents, and nurses from Serbia, the region, and across the globe.
Physicians and nurses from healthcare institutions in Serbia and the Republic of Srpska actively participated in the congress, alongside international guests from Montenegro, North Macedonia, Slovenia, Romania, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Israel, Russia, the USA, Spain, and the United Kingdom. A special contribution was made by colleagues from the University Clinical Center of Serbia (UKCS), the University Clinical Center Niš, the University Clinical Center of Vojvodina (UKCV) Novi Sad, the Zemun University Hospital (KBC Zemun), and the Military Medical Academy (VMA).
The congress recorded 380 attendees, 57 invited lecturers, 88 oral presentations and 98 poster presentations.
Meet Our Distinguished Guests
We had the privilege of hosting some of the most prominent names in contemporary global medicine:
- Prof. Dr. George Velmahos (USA): One of the world’s most distinguished experts in trauma surgery and surgical critical care visited Belgrade for the first time. Professor Velmahos is the Chief of Trauma, Emergency Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care at Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston), the principal teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. He has authored over 650 scientific papers and more than 70 books and chapters. He delivered fantastic lectures (such as the one on gastrointestinal bleeding), and the audience also thoroughly enjoyed the exceptional discussions led by Dr. Boris Kessel. A special highlight was his spectacular clinical case analysis concept titled the “Survival Game” where Prof. Velmahos conducted an interactive analysis with six young surgeons and residents. Dr. Dušan Brkić, Dr. Aleksandar Milovanović, and Dr. Valentina Isaković from Serbia, Dr. Anca Nica from Romania, as well as Dr. Meryem Tuncak and Dr. Beyza Can from Turkey, delivered outstanding performances on stage.
- Prof. Dr. Raul Coimbra (USA): A monumental figure in modern global traumatology and the Editor-in-Chief of the world’s most influential professional journal in this field—the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery. His lecture on the surgery of complex liver injuries was a true gem for all attending surgeons.
- Prof. Dr. Dmitri Grekov (Russia): Hailing from Moscow’s Botkin Hospital, the largest multi-specialty hospital in this megacity, which treats over 100,000 patients annually. Dr. Grekov is Russia’s leading expert in the application of Da Vinci robotic platforms for the treatment of complex malignant tumors. Early in his career, he was part of an elite group of surgeons who, under the leadership of Professor Shabunin, developed the emergency surgery protocols that serve as the official standard for the entire city of Moscow today.
- Prof. Dr. Ross Fisher (United Kingdom): The renowned British pediatric surgeon spoke on splenic trauma in children and also gifted participants with his deeply emotional performance titled “Broken Surgeon.”
- Prof. Dr. Manos Pikoulis (Greece): Professor of General and Emergency Surgery and a world-renowned expert in disaster medicine. He is the Director of the postgraduate program in Athens that trains physicians to respond to emergencies and war zones, and he also serves as a visiting professor in the USA and at the University of Bern in Switzerland.
- Prof. Dr. Mehmet Eryilmaz (Turkey): A distinguished professor of general and military surgery, President of the National Association for Trauma and Emergency Surgery of Turkey, and one of Europe’s leading experts in mass trauma management.
- Prof. Dr. Fausto Catena (Italy): A professor at the University of Bologna and one of the world’s most influential surgeons in this field. He is the leading author of nearly all global guidelines and clinical pathways. When a surgeon in Serbia, Israel, or America operates on a complicated trauma on a Wednesday night, they most frequently follow the protocols designed precisely by Professor Catena’s team.
Strong Support from European and Global Associations
- ESTES (European Society for Trauma and Emergency Surgery): Founded in 2007, this association promotes global best practices, and SUUH has been a proud member since 2023. The congress in Belgrade was visited by the current President of ESTES, the extraordinary physician and our friend from Spain, Isidro Martinez Casas. This support from the European umbrella association represents a major recognition of our work to date and an incentive for future activities.
- WSES (World Society of Emergency Surgery): Headquartered in Bologna, WSES conducts continuous education worldwide, and SUUH actively collaborates with them on numerous projects. The current President of WSES, Professor Federico Coccolini, also lent his support to our association through his attendance and lectures.
The Future of Emergency Surgery in Serbia
The Serbian Society of Emergency Surgery was founded in December 2022 by surgeons from the Clinic for Emergency Surgery at the University Clinical Center of Serbia in Belgrade. Today, it stands as the umbrella organization uniting surgeons and emergency medicine professionals across Serbia and the diaspora.
“Our goals are clear—to improve patient treatment and care, to connect with relevant global associations, to provide strong support to the current generation of surgeons, and to enable a high-quality professional exchange of knowledge and experience. Ultimately, this association will remain for those who are currently on their path of learning and acquiring skills, as well as for all future generations,” noted Prof. Dr. Krstina Doklestić Vasiljev, President of the Serbian Society of Emergency Surgery, in her address.
Educational Courses – Two highly specialized ultrasound courses for surgeons were also successfully held as part of the congress.
Opening Ceremony
At the formal opening ceremony of the congress, State Secretary Prof. Dr. Mirsad Đerlek addressed the attendees on behalf of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia.
The opening ceremony delivered a deeply emotional message through an artistic performance by members of the Terazije Theatre ensemble, Pozoriste na Terazijama. The program featured the bard of our acting community, Dragan Vujić Vujke, and opera singer Mirjana Nedeljković. The event was hosted by actress Anja Mit, based on a concept by Ivana Nedeljković Medigović, beautifully accompanied by the “Rozeta” string quartet consisting of: Aleksandra Tadić (first violin), Kristina Bulat (second violin), Ana Simić (viola), and Milica Jeković (cello).
The congress received media support from the national television broadcaster, RTS.
We extend our gratitude to all lecturers, participants, and partners who contributed to this congress pushing the boundaries of emergency surgery in our country!
