Minimally Invasive Nipple Sparing Mastectomy Session Proudly sponsored by OBEX MedTech Australia

The masterclass will cover novel uses of AI for your day to day, how to use AI to improve patient outcomes, AI in education and simulation.

This masterclass, presented by Dr Rahila Essani, provides an in-depth exploration of advanced robotic techniques for total mesorectal excision (TME) in anatomically challenging cases. Participants will gain practical insights into operating within a narrow male pelvis, obese patients, and post-neoadjuvant therapy fibrosis, where precision and planning are critical. Technical considerations will be explored, including port configuration strategies, docking strategies, pelvic dissection ergonomics, multi-quadrant dissection, stapling challenges in ultra-low resections, approaches to avoid nerve injury and strategies to minimise conversion and complications. Particular attention will be given to how robotic articulation, stable three-dimensional visualization, and improved ergonomics may translate into superior precision within the confined pelvis. Drawing on contemporary evidence and expert experience, this masterclass will equip surgeons with actionable strategies to optimise oncologic and functional outcomes in complex rectal cancer surgery.

Robotic surgery continues to redefine the technical and strategic landscape of colorectal practice worldwide. This session brings together leading international and Australian experts to examine the evolution of robotic platforms, their real-world application, and their impact on complex colorectal disease. Invited international faculty will provide insights into the daVinci and HUGO robotic systems, sharing global experience in platform utilisation, technical optimisation, and comparative performance. Their perspectives will offer a unique opportunity to understand how these systems are shaping contemporary colorectal surgery on the world stage. Australian experts will complement this with practical discussions on implementing robotic programs in provincial settings, training and credentialing the next generation of surgeons, and critically evaluating where robotics delivers meaningful clinical benefit—particularly in complex rectal cancer. Designed for colorectal surgeons at all stages of robotic adoption, this session moves beyond technology alone to explore evidence, outcomes, training, and value in modern robotic colorectal surgery.

Gastric bypass continues to evolve as surgeons refine technique, physiology and patient selection. This session explores the critical technical and anatomical principles behind Roux-en-Y and One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass, alongside strategies to optimise outcomes and manage complex revisional scenarios.

Proudly sponsored by New Medtek Devices

Technological innovation is rapidly expanding the boundaries of minimally invasive surgery. This session examines the evolving role of endoscopy, robotics and emerging platforms in bariatric and upper gastrointestinal practice — from endoscopic weight-loss therapies to next-generation surgical technologies.

Advances in oncology, genomics and surgical technology are reshaping the management of oesophagogastric malignancy. This session explores emerging concepts in staging, operative strategy and precision oncology that are redefining how surgeons approach upper gastrointestinal cancer.

Emergency laparotomy remains one of the highest-risk procedures performed in acute surgical practice, with significant variation in outcomes across health services. This launch of the national Emergency Laparotomy Clinical Care Standard by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care marks an important step toward improving the safety, consistency, and quality of care delivered to patients requiring urgent abdominal surgery. The Clinical Care Standard builds on and aligns with the work of Australian and New Zealand Emergency Laparotomy Audit – Quality Improvement (ANZELA-QI). This session will introduce the key features of the Clinical Care Standard, including timely recognition and escalation, multidisciplinary perioperative care, risk stratification, shared decision making about treatment, senior clinician involvement, and structured postoperative management. The presentation will outline what the Standard will mean for surgeons, other clinicians and healthcare services, and discuss implementation priorities across diverse hospital settings. The first national Standard for emergency laparotomy represents a collective opportunity to improve performance measurement, strengthen clinical governance, and ultimately improve patient outcomes in one of surgery’s most time-critical and high-risk domains.

Emergency general surgeons are frequently required to manage some of the most challenging conditions in abdominal surgery, often in unstable patients and time-critical circumstances. Sound judgement, adaptability, and familiarity with a range of operative strategies are essential to achieving the best possible outcomes. This session will explore three demanding areas of emergency practice: surgery for severe inflammatory bowel disease, management of colonic obstruction and perforation, and approaches to the open or difficult-to-close abdomen. Speakers will focus on practical decision-making, operative planning, and strategies to manage complications in high-risk patients. Designed for emergency general and colorectal surgeons, this session aims to provide clear, experience-based guidance for complex cases encountered on call.

Victory Lounge, Optus Stadium

Roe Room, Matilda Bay Restaurant

Function Centre, Fraser's Kings Park