Report on the First Combined AIUG-SICCR Congress- Alghero, 7th – 9th October 2010

The first combined AIUG-SICCR congress was held in Alghero from the 7th to the 9th October 2010, at the Institute of research Porto Conte. The idea of combining in a single event the scientific links between two societies that from different cultural perspectives deal with pathologies of the pelvic floor, originated at the beginning of this year.
It was brought forward enthusiastically by the respective Governing Councils and resulted in an interesting congress with a common scientific programme. From a point of view of logistics, organising the congress was rather difficult because it was already late spring and also due to new regulations of scientific events. It was necessary to find a different location to the one that had been foreseen.
Consequently, finding a new location delayed the development of the programme and the organisation.
Nevertheless the auditorium and the other halls in the centre of research of Alghero turned out to be adequate to host the 350 participants thanks to the splendid scenery. This event was celebrated symbolically in a round table because it was also the twentieth AIUG congress as well as the first combined. During the congress the past presidents of AIUG received a token of acknowledgement on behalf of the Society.
The scientific programme was articulated in six courses on one single theme, two courses for nurses and midwives, and into fourteen sessions regarding epidemiology, diagnostic methods, therapeutics options in combined defects of the pelvic floor and other themes of common interest. Seven videos were shown and forty- three free papers were presented.
The scientific works were of high standards thanks to the themes dealt with and to the competence of the speakers, just as the participation in all sessions and courses was highly satisfactory.
In conclusion the outcome of this combined congress has been satisfactory and has enhanced the participants of the two societies from a cultural point of view by means of a sort of osmosis of scientific competences. For this reason it has been decided unanimously that the experience should be continued with the basic AIUG-SICCR course which will be held in Terni in March 2011 and that will be repeated in the North and in the South also with a School of ultrasonography of the pelvic floor. Last but not least an attempt will be made to make sure that all other combined events take place at least every two years.