Congress Where Surgeons THRIVE.
March 30 - April 02 , 2025 | Fribourg
Colorectal THRIVE 2025
“At Colorectal THRIVE, you will learn from world-renowned Colorectal Surgeons. Our mission is clear: To make the global community of Surgeons THRIVE. Now and in the future. Join us in magical Fribourg, Switzerland , onsite or online, and achieve up to 36 CME credits.”
Prof. Michel Adamina, Founder of Colorectal THRIVE , Chairman & Full Professor of Surgery, Cantonal Hospital Fribourg & Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg Switzerland
ABOUT THE CONGRESS
What is Colorectal THRIVE 2025?
Colorectal THRIVE - Congress Where Surgeons THRIVE: Four days of state-of-the-art professional education in colorectal surgery. Onsite in the historic city of Fribourg, Switzerland, or online. Earn up to 36 CME credits.
At Colorectal THRIVE from Sun 30.03.2025 to Wed 02.04.2025, 40 key opinion leaders from 15 countries will cover all of colorectal surgery: From cancer to IBD, and from the management of complications to clinical applications of AI and virtual reality. Further topics include diverticular disease and the latest implications of the microbiome, functional and patient reported outcomes, proctology and pelvic floor, as well as leadership and professional development. The two Sunday Masterclass chaired by Janindra Warusavitarne, from St. Marks, London and Education chair ESCP prepare for the EBSQ Coloproctology.
The choice is yours: Attend all sessions, or book individual days - Colorectal THRIVE - expect only the Best.
Register now to experience:
3 days of single-stream expert lectures in colorectal surgery for a total of 42 lectures from Mon 31.03 to Wed 02.04.2025 and achieve 22 CME credits
- 1 full day of interactive masterclasses in either colorectal surgery OR proctology and pelvic floor diseases on Sunday March 30, 2025 and complete 7 CME credits for each masterclass
ECC is starting in
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
Cancer of the rectum -
Crohn and Colitis -
Cancer of the Colon -
Diverticular Disease -
Innovations at work -
Complications -
Pearls of Practice -
Perspective Lectures -
Proctology & Pelvic Floor -
Microbiome Revealed -
Agenda
Programme & Speaker 2025
The Main Congress sessions take place from Monday to Wednesday, March 31 to April 2, 2025 - (book all days or choose individual days).
Participants will be awarded up to 22 CME credits for attending the main congress.
Cancer of the Rectum
Crohn and Colitis
Cancer of the Colon
Diverticular Disease
Innovations at work
Complications
Pearls of Pratice
Perspective Lectures
Proctology & Pelvic Floor
Microbiome Revealed
Main Congress Colorectal THRIVE
Title
Lecturer
The EAES Presidental lecture
Designing surgical training for optimal performance
George Hanna, London - UK
The ESCP Presidential Lecture
Surgical leadership: soft factors, hard facts, new techniques – best outcomes
Antonino Spinelli, Milano, IT
The ACPGBI Presidential Lecture
Volume-outcome relationship in oncologic colorectal surgery: making clinical sense of the scientific evidence
Justin Davies, Cambridge - UK
Pearls of practice – Cancer of the Rectum
Staging, re-staging, and decision-making in rectal cancer: the early, the nasty, and the ugly
Gina Brown, London – UK
Managing early rectal cancer: local resection, radiation, and salvage procedures
Roel Hompes, Amsterdam - NL
Tailored operative strategy and ileostomy policy in locally advanced rectal cancer
Quentin Denost, Bordeaux - F
State of the art rectal cancer surgery: open, laparoscopic, transanal, or robotic – let the data speak
Jurriaan Tyunman, Amsterdam - NL
Organ preservation strategy and handling near complete responses
Quentin Denost, Bordeaux - F
Robotic pelvic exenteration and beyond TME resections: the new frontier
Christos Kontovounisios, Athens – GR
Pearls of practice – Crohn and Colitis
The COSTA study: can an appendectomy save the colon in ulcerative colitis patients with active disease
Christianne Buskens, Amsterdam - NL
Decision-making on stricturoplasty vs resection and step by step techniques from plain to complex stricturoplasties
André d’Hoore, Leuven - BE
Management of refractory Crohn colitis and dysplasia – segmental vs extended resection and reconstructive options
Laura Hancock, Manchester – UK
Mastering IBD in general practice – perioperative strategies and technical pearls
Janindra Warusavitarne, London - UK
The Times They Are a-Changin
Curative treatment strategies for peritoneal cancer: neoadjuvant PIPAC, CRS, and HIPEC
Lana Bijelic, Barcelona – ESP
The surgeon’s personality – does it matter?
Susan Moug, Paisley/Glasgow - UK
Handling oligometastatic colorectal cancer – from curative pathways to palliative surgery
Kiran Turaga, Yale – US (TBC)
Human factors in surgery: surgical team proficiency and optimal decision making
Paul Barach, Philadelphia - US
Ambulatory colectomy: is it a day dream? Reporting the first 150 patients
Philippe Chasserant, Albertville, FR
Molecular pathology explained - refining prognosis and tailoring oncologic treatment
Phil Quirke, Leeds – UK
Risk factors and management of diverticular disease - when shall we operate and to what aim? Of recurrence, quality of life, and surgical approaches
Pamela Buchwald, Malmö - SW
Pearls of practice – Cancer of the colon
Tailored multimodal treatment for colon cancer: evidence put at work
Paris Tekkis, London – UK
Right colectomy for cancer – my preferred techniques and approaches for solving intraoperative complications
Jim Khan, Portsmouth – UK
Implementation of liquid biopsy, advanced staging, and big data in clinical practice
Kiran Turaga, Yale – USA (TBC)
Getting things right – how to successfully implement complete mesocolic excision in your institution
Jurriaan Tuynman, Amsterdam – NL
Managing obstructive colorectal cancer – of stent, neoadjuvant approaches, and stoma prior to resection
Patricia Sylla, New York – US (TBC)
Artificial intelligence for detection of anatomical structures and surgical planes in colorectal surgery
Pietro Mascagni, Rome/Strabourg - IT/FR
Management of complex polyps
Jared Torkington, Cardiff - UK
Perspective lecture
From Knowing to Doing: the implementation gap – leadership at work
Paul Barach, Philadelphia - US
Training in robotic colorectal surgery - where do we stand, what did we achieve, where are we going
Jim Khan, Portsmouth – UK
How to overcome frustration and develop resilience along a surgical career
Patricia Sylla, New York - US (TBC)
Virtual reality and surgical simulation in colorectal surgery: the future is here
Antonino Spinelli, Milano – IT
Antonino Spinelli, Milano – IT
Antonino Spinelli, Milano – IT
Bail out strategies: management of complications
Maximizing the impact of ICG angiography on leak rates – results from the AVOID trial and more
Esther Consten, Groningen – NL
Gastrointestinal bleeding: staple line, diverticulitis, angiodysplasia, and more – how to get out of trouble
Laura Beyer-Berjot, Marseille - F
When joining the ends make no sense – salvage strategies and long-term results of the Turnbull-Cutait pull-through coloanal anastomosis
Eloy Espin, Barcelona - ES
The truth about anastomotic leak: prediction, treatment, and stoma-free survival following rectal cancer resection: the TENTACLE data
Roel Hompes, Amsterdam - NL
Anticipating complications and active management of frailty – prehabilitation
Susan Moug, Paisley/Glasgow - UK
Prevention and management of intestinal failure
Carolynne Vaizey, London - UK
Troubleshooting in the operating room – from open to laparoscopic and robotic: all that could get wrong and how to save your patient and yourself
Deena Harji, Manchester – UK
Pearls of practice – functional outcomes
LARS revisited – from recognition to treatment strategies and long-term outcomes
Julie Cornish, Cardiff - UK
Lessons learned from two decades of pelvic floor surgery
André d'Hoore, Leuven – BE
Sexual dysfunction and support pathways after multimodal anorectal cancer treatment
Julie Cornish, Cardiff - UK (TBC)
Diagnosis and treatment of intestinal malrotations
William Perry, Rochester - USA
Masterclasses
Title
Lecturer
Masterclass in Proctology and Pelvic Floor Diseases
Addressing the unspoken: sexual desire and function in coloproctology and pelvic floor patients
Francesco Bianchi Demicheli, Geneva - CH
Step by step proctology techniques from a Master of his Art
Bruno Roche, Geneva – CH
The Crohn perineum – state of the art management of abscess and complex fistula
Janindra Warusavitarne, London – UK
Stem cells explained and more coming from the bench to the bedside – what do we have today and what to expect tomorrow
Christianne Buskens, Amsterdam - NL
Obstetric injury: early and late presentation and repair techniques
Carolynne Vaizey, London – UK
Care protocol in proctology – hypnosis, local anesthesia, preemptive analgesia
Frédéric Ris, Geneva – CH
State of the art neuromodulation: of fecal incontinence, slow-transit constipation, LARS, and more - technique and cost-effectiveness
Guillaume Meurette, Geneva - CH
Pilonidal sinus: from incision to definitive treatment
Christian Gingert, Zürich - CH
Pelvic floor reconstruction techniques
Guillaume Meurette, Geneva - CH
What is IBS and what is it not – diagnosis and treatment of irritable bowel syndrom
Daniel Pohl, Zürich - CH (TBC)
Hidradenitis suppurativa – a practical, mutlimodal management guide
Christian Gingert, Zürich - CH
Rectocele, cystocele, and elytrocele: diagnosis, clinical significance, and surgical implications
Bruno Roche, Geneva – CH
Masterclass in Colorectal Surgery
Management strategies for intestinal neuroendocrine tumors
Isacco Montroni, Milano - IT
How I do it: hand-sewn coloanal anastomosis and lateral lymph node dissection
Paris Tekkis, London – UK
Happy to close – incidence of and step by step management strategies to minimize incisional and parastomal hernia
Jared Torkington, Cardiff - UK
Understanding biology and improving surgical specimen are key to best oncologic outcomes
Phil Quirke, Leeds - UK
First It did not reach and now it turns ischemic! How to maximize mobilization and perfusion: from the perfect flexure approach to mesentery lengthening and other tricks
Eloy Espin, Barcelona - ES
Cancer staging – why it matters, how to interpret imaging, and how to implement a quality reporting framework at home
Gina Brown, London - UK
Management of colonic volvulus, small bowel obstruction, bezoars, and Ogilvie
Rebecca Kraus, Chur - CH
The septic abdomen – radiologic drainage, lavage, primary resection and protected anastomosis vs Hartmann procedure and its minimally invasive reversal
Esther Consten, Groningen – NL
A colorectal trauma guide: foreign bodies, blunt, stab and shot injuries
Laura Beyer-Berjot, Marseille – F
Intraoperative decision-making for Crohn’s disease
Laura Hancock, Manchester - UK
Pro and cons of Ileorectal and ileopouchanal anastomosis in IBD and polyposis syndromes
Justin Davies, Cambridge – UK
Management of presacral and retrorectal tumors
William Perry, Rochester - USA
Early Bird
until 31.12.2023
Main Congress
(Monday-Wednesday)
550 CHF
Main Congress Trainee*
300 CHF
Single day (Mon - Wed)
250 CHF
Single day (Mon - Wed) Trainee*
150 CHF
Additional online access to Colorectal THRIVE until October 17, 2024 for holders of a current registration
100 CHF
Colorectal Masterclass
300 CHF
Colorectal Masterclass Trainee*
250 CHF
Proctology Masterclass
300 CHF
Proctology Masterclass Trainee*
250 CHF
Advanced Robotic hands-on Course (Limited number of participants)
600 CHF
Trainee status: applicable until age 32 (birth date must be later than 01.05.1991) – a passport copy has to be uploaded during registration for age verification, else the full registration fee will be charged
CME Credits - Earn up to 27 CME Credits
Main congress : 20 CME credits
Masterclass in Colorectal Surgery: 7 CME
Masterclass in Proctology: 7 CME
Advanced Robotic hands-on course: 6 CME
Late Bird
from 01.01 to 31.03.2024
Main Congress
(Monday-Wednesday)
650 CHF
Main Congress Trainee*
350 CHF
Single day (Mon - Wed)
300 CHF
Single day (Mon - Wed) Trainee*
175 CHF
Additional online access to Colorectal THRIVE until October 17, 2024 for holders of a current registration
100 CHF
Colorectal Masterclass
350 CHF
Colorectal Masterclass Trainee*
300 CHF
Proctology Masterclass
350 CHF
Proctology Masterclass Trainee*
300 CHF
Advanced Robotic hands-on Course (Limited number of participants)
600 CHF
Trainee status: applicable until age 32 (birth date must be later than 01.05.1991) – a passport copy has to be uploaded during registration for age verification, else the full registration fee will be charged
CME Credits - Earn up to 27 CME Credits
Main congress : 20 CME credits
Masterclass in Colorectal Surgery: 7 CME
Masterclass in Proctology: 7 CME
Advanced Robotic hands-on course: 6 CME
On site registration
rate apply from 01.04.2024
Main Congress
(Monday-Wednesday)
750 CHF
Main Congress Trainee*
400 CHF
Single day (Mon - Wed)
350 CHF
Single day (Mon - Wed) Trainee*
200 CHF
Additional online access to Colorectal THRIVE until October 17, 2024 for holders of a current registration
100 CHF
Colorectal Masterclass
400 CHF
Colorectal Masterclass Trainee*
350 CHF
Proctology Masterclass
400 CHF
Proctology Masterclass Trainee*
350 CHF
Advanced Robotic hands-on Course (Limited number of participants)
650 CHF
Trainee status: applicable until age 32 (birth date must be later than 01.05.1991) – a passport copy has to be uploaded during registration for age verification, else the full registration fee will be charged
CME Credits - Earn up to 27 CME Credits
Main congress : 20 CME credits
Masterclass in Colorectal Surgery: 7 CME
Masterclass in Proctology: 7 CME
Advanced Robotic hands-on course: 6 CME
Masterclasses 2025
Both Masterclasses take place on Sunday, March 30, 2025 (choose 1 of 2) and can be booked independently of the Main Congress.
Masterclass in
Colorectal Surgery
- Interactive one-day course
- Can be booked independently of the expert lectures
- 7 CME credits
- Attendance: Onsite or online
- PDF copies of the presentations are included
Masterclass in
Proctology & Pelvic Floor Disease
- Interactive one-day course
- Can be booked independently of the expert lectures
- 7 CME credits
- Attendance: Onsite or online
- PDF copies of the presentations are included
Our 40 Expert Speakers
Eloy Espin Basany
Barcelona, ES
Willem Bemelman
Amsterdam, NL & Milano, IT
Gina Brown
London, UK
Christianne Buskens
Amsterdam, NL
Quentin Denost
Bordeaux, FR
Ellen Van Eetvelde
Brussels, BE
Mark Fox
Alresheim, CH
Omar Faiz
London, UK
Esther Consten
Groningen, Netherlands
Christian Gingert
Zürich, CH
Ismail Gögenur
Copenhagen, DK
Pascal Juillerat
Bern, CH
Deena Harji
Manchester, UK
Roel Hompes
Amsterdam, NL
André d'Hoore
Leuven, BE
Jim Khan
Portsmouth, United Kingdom
James Kinross
London, UK
Rebecca Kraus
Chur, CH
Isacco Montroni
Faenze, IT
Miangela Laclé
Utrecht, Netherlands
Jacques Marescaux
Strasbourg, France
Gabriela Möslein
Duisburg, DE
Guillaume Meurette
Geneva, CH
Sarah Mills
London, UK
Phillip Quirke
Leeds, UK
Frédéric Ris
Geneva, CH
Olivia Sgarbura
Montpellier, FR
Neil Smart
Exeter, UK
Bruno Roche
Geneva, CH
Antonino Spinelli
Milano, IT
Patricia Tejedor
Madrid, ES
Joan Robert-Yap
Geneva, CH
Jared Torkington
London, UK
Des Winter
Dublin, IRL
Matthias Turina
Zurich, CH
Jurriaan Tuynman
Amsterdam, NL
Janindra Warusavitarne
London, UK
Paris Tekkis
London, UK
Mohamed Abbas
Geneva, CH
Amy L. Lightner
La Jolla, USA
Pricing 2025 - Onsite or Virtual
Payment in Swiss Francs: 1 CHF ≈ 1 EUR ≈ 1 US$ // No VAT is charged for education
Early Bird
until 20.12.2024
Main Congress
(Monday-Wednesday)
550 CHF
Main Congress Trainee*
300 CHF
Single day (Mon - Wed)
250 CHF
Single day (Mon - Wed) Trainee*
150 CHF
Additional 6 months online access to the main congress on demand
100 CHF
Colorectal Masterclass
300 CHF
Colorectal Masterclass Trainee*
250 CHF
Proctology Masterclass
300 CHF
Proctology Masterclass Trainee*
250 CHF
Additional 6 months online access to one Masterclass on demand
50 CHF
Trainee status: applicable until age 32 (birth date must be later than 01.05.1992) – a passport copy has to be uploaded during registration for age verification, else the full registration fee will be charged
CME Credits - Earn up to 36 CME Credits
Main congress : 22 CME credits
Masterclass in Colorectal Surgery: 7 CME
Masterclass in Proctology: 7 CME
Late Bird
from 21.12.2024 to 14.03.2025
Main Congress
(Monday-Wednesday)
650 CHF
Main Congress Trainee*
350 CHF
Single day (Mon - Wed)
300 CHF
Single day (Mon - Wed) Trainee*
175 CHF
Additional 6 months online access to the main congress on demand
100 CHF
Colorectal Masterclass
350 CHF
Colorectal Masterclass Trainee*
300 CHF
Proctology Masterclass
350 CHF
Proctology Masterclass Trainee*
300 CHF
Additional 6 months online access to one Masterclass on demand
50 CHF
Trainee status: applicable until age 32 (birth date must be later than 01.05.1992) – a passport copy has to be uploaded during registration for age verification, else the full registration fee will be charged
CME Credits - Earn up to 36 CME Credits
Main congress : 22 CME credits
Masterclass in Colorectal Surgery: 7 CME
Masterclass in Proctology: 7 CME
On site registration
rates apply from 15.03.2024
Main Congress
(Monday-Wednesday)
750 CHF
Main Congress Trainee*
400 CHF
Single day (Mon - Wed)
350 CHF
Single day (Mon - Wed) Trainee*
200 CHF
Additional 6 months online access to the main congress on demand
100 CHF
Colorectal Masterclass
400 CHF
Colorectal Masterclass Trainee*
350 CHF
Proctology Masterclass
400 CHF
Proctology Masterclass Trainee*
350 CHF
Additional 6 months online access to one Masterclass on demand
50 CHF
Trainee status: applicable until age 32 (birth date must be later than 01.05.1992) – a passport copy has to be uploaded during registration for age verification, else the full registration fee will be charged
CME Credits - Earn up to 36 CME Credits
Main congress : 22 CME credits
Masterclass in Colorectal Surgery: 7 CME
Masterclass in Proctology: 7 CME
Early Bird
until 20.12.2024
Late Bird
from 21.12.24
to 14.03.2025
Spring Rate
from 15.03.2025
to 02.04.2025
Main Congress
(Monday-Wednesday)
550 CHF
650 CHF
750 CHF
Main Congress Trainee*
300 CHF
350 CHF
400 CHF
Single day (Mon - Wed)
250 CHF
300 CHF
350 CHF
Single day (Mon - Wed) Trainee*
150 CHF
175 CHF
200 CHF
Additional online access to Colorectal THRIVE until October 17, 2025 for holders of a current registration
100 CHF (requires a registration to the main congress Mon–Wed)
Colorectal Masterclass
300 CHF
350 CHF
400 CHF
Colorectal Masterclass Trainee*
250 CHF
300 CHF
350 CHF
Proctology Masterclass
300 CHF
350 CHF
400 CHF
Proctology Masterclass Trainee*
250 CHF
300 CHF
350 CHF
Additional 6 months online access to one Masterclass on demand
50 CHF
50 CHF
50 CHF
Trainee status: applicable until age 32 (birth date must be later than 01.05.1992) – a passport copy has to be uploaded during registration for age verification, else the full registration fee will be charged
CME Credits - Earn up to 27 CME credits
Main congress : 20 CME credits
Masterclass in Colorectal Surgery : 7 CME
Masterclass in Proctology and Pelvic Floor Diseases : 7 CME
Colorectal THRIVE - Organizing Committee
The brains and hands at work to make it happen. Our goal: To establish the world’s leading comprehensive congress for colorectal surgery, proctology, and pelvic floor diseases - a place where surgeons THRIVE.
Colorectal THRIVE - Sounding Board
The distinguished members of our Sounding Board oversaw the best and most comprehensive programme in colorectal surgery for you.
Discover Fribourg
Switzerland
When you attend Colorectal THRIVE, you will also get to experience Fribourg - one of Switzerland's oldest towns.
Fribourg is famous for its medieval architecture, numerous bridges, university and cheese fondues. Surrounded by crystal-clear lakes and steep mountains that attract sport enthusiasts and nature lovers alike, Fribourg is also easy to reach from the nearby airports of Zurich, Geneva, and Basel.
Direct access to train connection from all major cities and airports to Fribourg.
More information: Discover Fribourg and local transports (Fribourg city card).
Congress venue
The Colorectal THRIVE congress venue is located at the heart of Fribourg.
Excellent public transportation and individual parking at the congress site are available. We recommend public transportation to travel to the congress.
Access public transporation schedule here
=> Type From: "your place of departure" To: "Forum Fribourg"
Forum Fribourg, Route du Lac 12, 1763 Granges-Paccot
Hotels & accommodation
All participants are to book their accommodation of choice independently.
The 2 hotels next to the congress venue are the Hotel Ibis and Ibis budget with rates starting below CHF 100. They are plenty of hotel rooms available within a 10km radius, as well as Airbnb options.
Hotel Ibis can be booked at H5324-BO@accor.com
Hotel Ibis budget can be booked at H9925-FO@accor.com
Further hotels within 10km of the congress venue can be booked at:
Submit an abstract
We welcome original abstracts of previously unpublished works related to the field of colorectal and digestive diseases, including basic and translational research, medical education, leadership, and health resources utilization.
Full registration of the first author is mandatory for submission of an abstract with a limit of 2 contributions per first author and 500 words per contribution.
Submission deadline is Sunday March 9th, 2025 midnight CET.
Accepted abstracts will be displayed in the virtual exhibition from March to October 2025 and the best 3 contributions will be honored. No printing is foreseen for sustainability. Digital publication follows the Creative Commons open access guidelines (CC-BY 4.0).
LOOKING BACK
This was THRIVE 2024
Colorectal THRIVE 2024 ended mid of April: it was an incredible success built on Friendship, Commitment to Share, and tireless Engagement for our Core Values. Speakers and Attendees shaped the spirit of our THRIVE colorectal community, exchanging thoughts and sharing experience to learn together and improve patients’ care and surgeons’ well-being.
An international jury had the difficult task to select and honour three out of the many submitted abstracts. The 3 best contributions were:
1. Laparoscopic staplers - time to be in safe
Géza Papp, János Márk Bozorádi, Zsófia Sz Bérces, Péter Fürjes
2. Can endo ultrasound assisted botilinum toxin injection combined with platelet rich plasma be an alternative to lateral internal sphincterotomy in chronic anal fissure?
Aybala Yildiz, Alp Yildiz
3. Surgeon preferences for rectopexy: a survey study
Eleftheros Gialamas, Isabelle Uhe, Jeremy Meyer, Emilie Liot, Guillaume Meurette, Frederic Ris
Congratulations to the three winners and their team!
Thank you for choosing THRIVE to share your research.
We pledge to share at THRIVE – for this inaugural year we counted 548 onsite and 211 virtual participants from 56 countries.
More than 50 surgeons from war-torn and LMIC countries had their registration waived. Because we believe in sharing above all.
If you liked Colorectal THRIVE 2024, you will love THRIVE 2025: please mark your calendar for Colorectal THRIVE 2025 from Sunday March 30 to Wednesday April 2, 2025 in Fribourg. We will make another major colorectal congress happen, share what we know and can best, and thrive together!
Michel and the Colorectal THRIVE Team