Theme of the BHS Conference – Mesh - benefits and complications
The introduction of mesh revolutionised hernia surgery, and whether you favour an open or laparoscopic procedure you cannot help but be affected by mesh technology. There is currently a bewildering array of different meshes available, over 250 at the last count, all vying for your attention and claiming to be superior to their competitors.
Are the differences real or simply part of the industry’s marketing strategy? Are some meshes more suitable for certain types of operation than others? Do some meshes cause more problems than others, and are there meshes that simply shouldn’t be used in particular situations?
We, the Board of the British Hernia Society feel strongly that every surgeon who includes hernia repair in his practice should have a core understanding of mesh technology. We have therefore formatted this meeting to give you, the busy general surgeon, an overview of current thinking in the world of synthetic and biological meshes, and an idea of the direction in which meshes are likely to develop over the next few years.
Our speakers are surgeons with extensive experience in all aspects of hernia repair and we aim to give you the opportunity to question them freely. The programme also includes live surgical operations, always popular with the anticipation of watching the ‘expert’ get it wrong. The major mesh manufacturers will also be present, so you can see many of the products for yourself.
The whole meeting, including the gala dinner, has been heavily sponsored by the industry in order to make this an affordable and we hope enjoyable educational experience for you. We look forward to seeing you in Glasgow.