SAGES Magazine

THE SOUTH AFRICAN GASTROENTEROLOGY REVIEW 2023 | VOLUME 21 | ISSUE 1 | 29 GASTRO FOUNDATION MEETINGS Life and experience is about intersections. Medicine and history intersect continuously. The enormity of human suffering in Crimea 1854 brought Florence Nightingale and the era of modern nursing to the fore. This war was imprinted in history by the infamous charge of the Light Brigade, commanded by Lord Raglan, where British cavalry charged Russian artillery to no avail (other than to inspire a poem by Alfred Tennyson who lamented the idiocy of human arrogance). His elder brother Charles Somerset was at the same time conducting another imperial mandate: the frontier wars against the Xhosa people in the Eastern Cape where town of Somerset was established to provide provision for the British army fortifying defence lines along the Kei river. The 14th Gastro foundation meeting for fellows was hosted in the misty and mountainous town of Somerset West. The anxiety and trepidation I had as a junior fellow attending my first fellow’s weekend paralleled that of a soldier commissioned to the frontier war. However, this trepidation was soon put to rest by the warm and welcoming nurture of the gastro fraternity. We eased into the weekend after delightful lunch by listening to didactic presentations by the following experts in their fields: Dr Bobat, Dr Hlatswayo, Dr Chinnery, Dr Gabriel, and Dr Levin. Dr Bobat delved into the subtle delineation of acute liver failure versus acute on chronic liver failure. I find it most difficult in offering or denying a patient the option of liver transplantation and his concepts eased this decision- making process. Dr Hlatswayo provided an excellent and simplified approach to chronic diarrhoea which is a common yet often frustratingly refractory disorder to diagnose and manage. Dr Chinnery tackled upper gastrointestinal dilations. Dr Gabriel managed to make colorectal screening and surveillance less protocol driven and more insightful. Dr Levin presented on dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome and made these common yet formidable disorders simple and pragmatic to manage. We also had the unique opportunity to listen to an internationally renowned expert, Professor Gerhard Rogler, speak on exciting and new monoclonal antibody therapy in inflammatory bowel disease. Professor Reid Ally added a new but invaluable twist to this year’s meeting by introducing an approach to evidence-based medicine by utilizing critical appraisal skill sets. The hepatobiliary and upper gastrointestinal surgical fellows embarked on a separate program to the medical and colorectal fellows but also enjoyed listening to key topics in their field which included: surgery after neo- adjuvant therapy in pancreatic cancer by Professor Ramos; cystic lesions of the pancreas and the step-up approach for the management of pancreatic necrosis by Dr Burmeister; treatment of oesophageal and gastric varices by Professor Bernon; treatment of benign liver tumours by Dr Hofmeyr and lastly management of colorectal cancer and liver metastasis by Professor Jonas. The day ended with a personal highlight, a competitive but fun team building quiz. 14th Gastro Foundation meeting for fellows Lord Charles Somerset Hotel, Somerset West, Cape Town, 17th to 19th March 2023