Report of the 18th AAGL International Congress with IAGE

From conception of a dream to unexpected obstacles and hurdles due to the nerve racking COVID pandemic and many changed schedules and dates, to finally, the birth of the 18^th AAGL International Congress with IAGE; “Unravelling Uterine Issues & Beyond” held 1st to 4th of June 2023 at the Hotel Westin and Convention Centre in Mumbai, India, touched the hearts of all involved. It’s said if you desire something with the purest of intentions, backed by immense background sweat, toil, and hard work, the entire universe conspires to make the dream come true.

The Scientific Program Chairs Prakash Trivedi, Andrew Sokol guided by Linda Michels, Shailesh Puntambeker, Pandit Palaskar, Hrishikesh Pai, Bhaskar Pal, Soumil Trivedi, S Krishnakumar, and Atul Ganatra to name a few, along with our International Faculties Mauricio Abrao, Marcello Ceccaroni, Mario Malzoni, Marie Paraiso, Sven Becker, Sergio Haimovich, Jubilee Brown, Martin Farrugia, Arnold Advincula, and Gaby Moawad, gave strength to truly talented, globally known, Indian experts to deliver this once in a lifetime event.

With more than thirty-five breath-taking surgeries of varied pathologies by many stalwarts across the globe, over two days of super talented Indian Endoscopists from nine Centres of Excellence, followed by two days of intense scientific deliberations, eight outstanding orations, and twenty-four keynotes; the Congress covered all facets of Minimally Invasive Gynaecological Surgery and surpassed the expectations of nearly one thousand attending consultants and industry partners.

This Congress provided a platform to connect and network with our international counterparts. Opportunities with international discussants were given to many young, able Indian endoscopic surgeons to critique and scrutinise. Most were blown away by the skill and volume that the Indian surgeons possess.

Three hands-on simulator training sessions on Robotic Surgery, In Bag Morcellation of Uterine Fibroids, and Mastering the Art of Laparoscopic Suturing, were well received and attended by many.

Two full day, six hour sessions by the most esteemed teachers and faculties across India were dedicated to Learning and Mastering Nuances of Sonography, IVF, and Fertility.

The Congress received 117 competitive video presentations which were scrutinised and assessed by fourteen national and two international reviewers. Of these, five outstanding demonstrations of techniques were presented the Best Video Award.

Out of nearly two hundred applicants from all corners of India, forty-five young Endoscopists were shortlisted for their outstanding contribution and committed work in MIS in Gynaecology and United Organisations.

Not to forget that amongst the four days of an exhaustive scientific meeting there were the most riveting and scintillating evening programs. These included a Sufi Music Night and dances performed by none other than our very own Endoscopic Fraternity Family – juniors, and veterans, along with a team of professional choreographers. It echoed the sentiment of ABCD – Any Body Can Dance, but it was extended to ABCDE, Any Body Can Do Endoscopy. This was the ultimate goal of this EPIC CONGRESS, that it would help us serve our patients better with updated skills and the best technological advancements, in sync with current scientific evidences!!