RIYADH: A major international medical conference on hernias hosted in Riyadh shed light on treating patients using innovative methods, including laparoscopy and robot-assisted surgery.
The event was attended by more than 300 surgeons specialized in treating hernias in the Kingdom and Arab countries, as well as 300 healthcare workers, in addition to speakers and officials.
During the conference, speakers stressed that obesity is the most important factor in the occurrence of hernias in patients.
Proper nutrition plays a vital role in avoiding hernias, officials said.
Dr. Ashraf Maghrabi, chairman of the board of directors of the Saudi Society of General Surgery, said that cutting-edge medical techniques have reducing the rates of hernia complications in the Kingdom. Equipment including surgical meshes as well as robots have also advanced medical treatment, he added.
The official called on patients suffering from hernias to be examined and assessed by a surgeon or specialist doctor.
If hernias are not detected and treated at the right time, patients can suffer complications, reducing the chance of successful treatment, he warned.
Maghrabi stressed that the holding of medical conferences is crucial in promoting education and sharing experiences between specialists.
Prof. Sebastian Schoppman, honorary president of the conference and vice president of the European Foregut Society, said that the event was the largest of its kind and aided in developing the surgical skills of audience members, as well as transferring the international experiences of dealing with hernia patients, which will develop healthcare services provided to people in the Kingdom.
The conference was also attended by Dr. Haitham Al-Zamil, Dr. Ahmed Al-Buraikan, Dr. Ibrahim Al-Babtain, Dr. Bishr Murad, Dr. Hossam Al-Omari, Dr. Swailem Al-Mutairi, Dr. Shadi Saleh Al-Bahri, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Al-Nami and Dr. Roger Gergi, president of the Emirates society of robotic surgeries.
