NNUH organises international microsurgery conference

Mr Andrea Figus

A leading Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon from the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) is hosting the UK’s second international conference in reconstructive microsurgery next month.

A prestigious international panel of experts from the USA, Japan, Europe and UK will challenge current concepts, indications, techniques and outcomes of microsurgical reconstruction used in breast, head and neck, hand, lower limb and transplantation surgery.

The conference ‘Advances and Controversies in Reconstructive Microsurgery’ is being held at De Vere Dunston Hall Hotel in Norwich on Thursday 5th and Friday 6th May 2016 and is open to surgeons from across the world. It is the second time the conference has been held and is the largest microsurgery conference to be held in the UK.

Mr Andrea Figus, Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at NNUH, has organised the event, and said: “The ACRM Norwich 2014 conference exceeded all our expectations and we are committed to making this year even better. We want to stimulate debate, share experience of current research and technology across sub-specialties and encourage collaboration within the microsurgical community to establish a strong co-operative network.”

The NNUH is a centre of excellence for microsurgical reconstruction and treats patients from across Norfolk and Suffolk as well as parts of Essex and Cambridgeshire. The plastic surgery department carry out around 200 microsurgery procedures every year. Operations range from four to eight hours long and include breast reconstruction for patients with cancer, head and neck cancers, skin cancer and trauma cases.

Peter Chapman, Interim Medical Director at NNUH said: “The plastics team here at the Norfolk and Norwich is one of the best in the country. Their work transforms patients’ lives on a daily basis and the fact that top surgeons from around the world attend this event organised by our team shows how well respected the unit is.”

Amongst over 30 speakers, highlights include Isao Koshima from Japan, who is a pioneer in reconstructive microsurgery; Laurent Lantieri, who performed the first ever full face transplant; Jaume Masia, from Barcelona, expert in microsurgical treatment of lymphoedema and Philippe Liverneaux and Jesse Selber specialists in robotic-assisted microsurgery.

The conference is being supported by the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. For further information visit www.acrm-norwich.co.uk for further details.