This hands-on educational program is based on anatomical dissection and is dedicated to sleep-disordered breathing surgery and to the latest technologies applied to surgery of the nose, pharynx and, in this edition, also the larynx, tongue base and facial skeleton. The course provides a comprehensive overview of pharyngo-palatal, tongue base and epiglottic surgery, while addressing the management of nasal obstruction, rhinosinus inflammation, and stenotic alterations of the facial skeleton.
Each participant, supported by an experienced tutor, will work on an anatomical specimen and perform, step by step, all procedures demonstrated by the faculty at the master workstation, transforming every teaching moment into a practical and immersive learning experience. The event is structured over two educational days, divided into two separate modules. Participants may register for each module individually or combine both modules, according to the options described in the “General Information” section.
The first day will focus on the management of nasal obstruction and inflammation, with an intensive practical program including injection techniques, nasal valve and nasal tip surgery, septoplasty procedures, ethmoid complex dissection, as well as selected classical procedures involving the facial skeleton. The second day will be entirely dedicated to the collapsible segments of the upper aerodigestive tract, the core area of sleep-disordered breathing surgery. Participants will perform and explore advanced techniques including uvuloplasty, uvulo-palatal flap procedures, anterior palatoplasty, Barbed Reposition Pharyngoplasty and Stayed Bridge Pharyngoplasty, with particular emphasis on the latest developments in barbed suture-assisted surgery. A novel feature of this edition is the introduction of basic endoscopic techniques for tongue base surgery (volume reduction) and epiglottic surgery (epiglottoplasty). At the end of the surgical sessions, participants will have the opportunity to explore in detail the anatomy of the
involved structures through a guided dissection of the hamulus, pterygomandibular raphe, posterior nasal spine, palatal aponeurosis, supratonsillar recess, soft palate musculature and parapharyngeal space, as well as the tongue base and supraglottic larynx. This will provide a deep anatomical understanding with immediate clinical applicability. To complete the program, international experts will present techniques for identifying the medial branch of the hypoglossal nerve through the suprahyoid approach and the implantation procedures of the Nyxoah hypoglossal nerve stimulation system, offering participants an overview of the most innovative frontiers in sleep surgery. Dedicated technological sessions (Tech Times) led by expert faculty members will further explore the characteristics and applications of barbed sutures and coblation technology. The course will conclude with an interactive session focused on practical tips, surgical pearls and strategies to perform procedures that are more effective, safer and reproducible, providing participants with immediately applicable skills for daily surgical practice.