More than 70 surgeons from public hospitals across the Balearic Islands gathered at Hospital Can Misses in Ibiza on Thursday, September 17, for the XI Meeting of the Sociedad Balear de Cirugía (SOBACIR).

The annual meeting brought together surgical teams from Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca to exchange clinical experience, discuss complex cases and review developments in areas including emergency surgery, robotic surgery and oesophagogastric disease.

Surgeons from across the Balearics

The meeting brought together specialists from public hospitals throughout the archipelago.

The objective was to encourage collaboration between surgical departments, update professional knowledge and share approaches to complex clinical situations.

The event was held at Can Misses in Ibiza, providing an opportunity for the island's surgical teams to meet colleagues from Mallorca and Menorca.

Complex cases presented by residents

Residents in General and Digestive Surgery opened the scientific programme with presentations of complex clinical cases.

Among the cases discussed were oesophageal injuries caused by the ingestion of caustic substances and Boerhaave syndrome.

Boerhaave syndrome refers to a spontaneous rupture of the oesophagus and requires rapid diagnosis and treatment because of the seriousness of the condition.

Emergency surgery takes centre stage

A major part of the meeting focused on emergency surgery.

One of the presentations examined the treatment of giant incarcerated incisional hernias and the decisions involved when urgent intervention is required.

Another session addressed iatrogenic injuries to the bile duct, including issues surrounding early diagnosis, treatment strategies and multidisciplinary management.

The programme also examined the treatment of pelvic fractures in polytrauma patients in regional hospitals.

Sharing protocols and clinical experience

The emergency surgery session provided an opportunity for specialists from different hospitals to compare protocols and experiences.

The discussions focused on decision-making in particularly complex cases and on the multidisciplinary approach required when patients need rapid specialist care.

Sharing these experiences is one of the main purposes of the SOBACIR meeting.

Residents also presented research

The meeting included a specific space for professionals in training.

Residents from Son Espases, Son Llàtzer and Manacor presented clinical cases to their colleagues.

Selected research projects and professional experiences were also displayed during the scientific break through posters chosen by the SOBACIR scientific committee.

Robotic surgery discussed in depth

Robotic surgery was another major subject of the meeting.

The programme concluded with the Francesc Puig award masterclass, titled “From Theory to Practice: Implementation and Results of a Robotic Programme”.

The lecture was delivered by Antonio Arroyo Sebastián, head of General and Digestive Surgery at Hospital General Universitario de Elche.

From implementation to results

During the masterclass, Arroyo Sebastián addressed the requirements involved in introducing robotic surgery programmes and discussed the results achieved after their integration into routine clinical practice.

The session focused on the practical aspects of adopting robotic technology within surgical services rather than announcing a new robotic programme at Can Misses.

Robotic systems are increasingly being incorporated into surgical practice, making training, organisation and evaluation an important part of their implementation.

Continued professional training

Continuing education was another central theme of the meeting.

SOBACIR used the occasion to award external-rotation scholarships designed to support specialist training placements at reference centres.

These placements are intended to allow professionals to gain experience in other hospitals and bring knowledge back to their own surgical services.

Awards for scientific work

The meeting also recognised work presented during the conference.

Prizes were awarded to selected contributions presented as part of the scientific programme.

The poster presentations provided an opportunity for surgical teams and doctors in training to share research projects and clinical experiences from hospitals across the islands.

Strengthening cooperation between hospitals

Bringing surgeons from the three main islands together also served a broader purpose.

The meeting provided a forum for teams from Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza to compare approaches and strengthen professional links between surgical departments.

This type of cooperation can be particularly relevant in an island healthcare system, where specialist services and complex cases are distributed between several hospitals.

A meeting hosted in Ibiza

Holding the XI SOBACIR meeting at Can Misses placed Ibiza at the centre of the Balearic surgical community for the day.

Local hospital specialists took part alongside colleagues from Mallorca and Menorca, creating a shared space for clinical discussion and professional training.

The meeting also highlighted the range of complex surgical issues being addressed across the public healthcare system in the Balearic Islands.

The event concludes with SOBACIR's assembly

After the scientific programme, the Sociedad Balear de Cirugía held its general assembly.

The day concluded with a working lunch involving the participants.

By the end of the meeting, the focus had remained on clinical knowledge, professional training, research and coordination between surgical teams across the islands.

Looking at the future of surgery

The subjects discussed at Can Misses reflect several areas that are shaping modern surgical practice, from the management of complex emergencies to the gradual introduction of robotic technology.

At the same time, the programme placed strong emphasis on practical clinical experience, specialist training and cooperation between hospitals.

For Ibiza, hosting the meeting provided an opportunity to bring together surgical professionals from across the Balearics while giving local teams a platform within the wider regional surgical community.