Highlights of Urology
Fair 2008, in conjunction with 1st Asia-Pacific Kidney Cancer Symposium
held in Singapore, from 27 Feb to 1 Mar 2008
Hands-on Laparoscopy
Workshop
The workshop was
conducted in the Advanced Surgery Training Centre, National University
Hospital. Surgical techniques and experience were shared in areas of
laparoscopic nephrectomy, partial nephrectomy, pyeloplasty,
ureterolithotomy and adrenalectomy. This was followed by sessions in
the dry and wet laboratory where 30 participants from the region
participated in hand-on surgery on animal models.
Dr Ho delivered two lectures, sharing his laparoscopic surgical
experience in pyeloplasty and ureterolithotomy.
Urology Fair is the
Annual Scientific Meeting of the Singapore Urological Association and
in 2008, it is held in conjunction with the inaugural Asia Pacific
Kidney Cancer Symposium. It attracted urologists, medical oncologists,
scientists and nursing personnel from the Asia Pacific region. The main
meeting was based around advances in treatment of kidney cancer with
numerous hands-on workshop and subspecialty convention.
Management of Kidney
Cancer (Renal Cell Carcinoma)
The main meeting
focused on the latest in surgical and medical management of kidney
cancer. Laparoscopic nephrectomy is the accepted standard of care for
small and early kidney cancer and there is a strong tendency towards
kidney-sparring surgery for very early kidney cancer.
More effective chemotherapy regimes are available for advanced kidney
cancer where benefits are observed in longer survival and less
side-effects. Newer and 'targeted-therapy' chemotherapy agents are also
available in oral (tablet) form instead of injections.
Dr Ho chaired two sessions on the management of metastatic kidney
cancer and a lively discussion on the treatment of 'challenging' kidney
cancers.
The first lecture titled 'Algorithm for the Management of Advanced
Renal Cell Carcinoma' was delivered by Dr Robert J. Motzer, MD,
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, USA. Oral chemotherapy agent
such as Sunitinib is recommended as the first-line treatment for both
low and high risk metastatic kidney cancer. Temsirolimus, which is
delivered intravenously, has similar results in high risk metastatic
disease. Sorafenid, which is also an oral preparation is an alternative
to both low and high risk diseases.
Several 'challenging' kidney cancer cases were put-up for discussion by
an international panel comprising of Dr Motzer (USA), medical
oncologist; Dr Lau (Australia), urologist; Dr Hong (Singapore) medical
oncologist and Dr Wood (USA), urologist.
Current trends in
urinary stone management - Nursing Symposium
The nursing symposium
held in Grand Hyatt Hotel was well attended by over 200 nurses and para
clinical personnel from Asia Pacific.
Dr Ho delivered a lecture on 'Current trends in urinary stone
management'. Urinary stones have troubled man since medieval times and
surgery for bladder stones have been done since the 14th century. The
current trend is moving towards minimally invasive treatment such as
shock wave treatment (lithotripsy), endoscopy with laser and
percutaneous surgery (needle hole). Such techniques can treat upto 99%
of all patients with stone without the need for open surgery.
S H HO UROLOGY AND
LAPAROSCOPY CENTRE
Dr Ho Siew Hong
delivering a lecture during Urofair 2008