A major first for the 21st edition of the ITEC course!
From March 25 to 27, 2026, the IHU Strasbourg came alive with the colors of Latin America as it hosted the special “ITEC LATAM” (International Therapeutic Endoscopic Ultrasound) edition, with Colombia as the guest of honor. Over three intense days, participants delved into the heart of advanced therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound, marking another success for this premier course, delivered entirely in Spanish.
A prestigious international team of experts
Under the leadership of Dr. Leonardo Sosa Valencia, course director and world-renowned expert, this exceptional edition highlighted an unprecedented transatlantic collaboration. Dr. Sosa Valencia was supported by two renowned co-directors: Dr. Lazaro Arango Molano, who traveled all the way from Colombia, and Dr. Jérôme Huppertz, representing France. To guide the participants, a panel of exceptional international experts shared their knowledge and clinical experience. We were honored to have the presence and expertise of Drs. M. Abu Suboh-Abadia (Spain), JR. Aparicio Tormo (Spain), C. De La Serna Higuera (Spain), C. Micames (Puerto Rico), and I. Raijman (United States).
From Theory to Practice: Unparalleled Clinical Realism
In an era where minimally invasive treatments are redefining patient care, the transition from diagnostic to therapeutic echoendoscopy requires highly specialized training, even for experienced practitioners. The goal of this ITEC LATAM course was to go beyond basic training by providing the practical skills necessary to master these new and complex techniques.
Participants received over 14 hours of intensive hands-on training on our experimental platform. Using in-vivo and ex-vivo models that perfectly simulate real-world pathologies, they were able to practice on concrete clinical cases: intra-abdominal collections for drainage, lymph nodes for tissue sampling and radiofrequency ablation, and biliary dilations. The entire program took place in a unique environment equipped with the latest echoendoscopy equipment, C-arms, as well as state-of-the-art CT and MRI scanners.
A program packed with cutting-edge procedures
Participants were able to perform a wide range of complex therapeutic procedures, guided step-by-step by experts. Among the techniques covered were:
- Drainage of the gallbladder and bile ducts under echoendoscopy,
- Radiofrequency ablation of lesions,
- Performing gastrojejunal anastomoses,
- Tissue acquisition by fine needle biopsy (FNB).
¡Un evento inolvidable!
This special LATAM edition concluded on March 27 with extremely positive results. The in-depth clinical discussions, roundtable sessions, and warm atmosphere made this course a memorable occasion for intercontinental knowledge exchange and collaboration.
The IHU Strasbourg once again confirms its position as a world-class training center in image-guided surgery. We warmly thank all the experts, industry partners, and participants. ¡Hasta pronto for the next edition of ITEC!
To learn more about the ITEC course, click here.
