In this episode of Inside Surgery, host Dr Alice Tsai speaks with Professor Young-Woo Kim (Section Editor for Surgical Endoscopy, based at the National Cancer Center Korea, and a leading gastric cancer surgeon specialising in minimally invasive and robotic surgery) and Professor Nicolò de Manzini (Section Editor for Surgical Endoscopy, Professor of Surgery at the University of Trieste, with expertise in general, colorectal, and surgical education).

They discuss the role of subject editors and how they act as the first filter for submitted papers, deciding whether manuscripts should go to peer review or be rejected early. This protects reviewers’ time and ensures that only papers with clear value, relevance, and quality move forward.

Both guests explain what a paper needs to be relevant to surgical practice. Professor Kim highlights scientific rigour, avoiding selection bias, and clinically useful AI and prospective studies, while Professor de Manzini values practical papers on complications, safety, difficult cases, and everyday surgical improvements.

Overall, this episode shows what it means to publish in Surgical Endoscopy.

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In this episode of Inside Surgery, host Dr. Alice Tsai speaks with Professor Andrew Gumbs, a world-renowned minimally invasive, robotic HPB surgeon and Editor-in-Chief of Artificial Intelligence Surgery, about the future of AI, robotics, and surgical autonomy.

Professor Gumbs reflects on his international training across the US and Europe, his humanitarian surgical work in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Haiti, and how those experiences shaped his belief that AI and affordable robotics could help reduce global inequalities in access to surgery.

The conversation explores the difference between fully robotic systems and collaborative robotics, with Professor Gumbs arguing for more affordable, bedside robotic tools that keep the surgeon directly involved with the patient. He discusses his work with collaborative robots, AI-guided camera systems, and the need for safe, stepwise adoption of autonomy in the operating room.

Professor Gumbs highlights the importance of surgeons gaining AI knowledge, supporting research in the field, and working alongside computer scientists, ethicists, lawyers, business experts, and policymakers.

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In this episode of Inside Surgery, host Dr. Alice Tsai hands over to surgical resident Dr. Bright Huo (Surgical Resident, McMaster University, Canada) to explore the development of the upcoming 2026 multi-society clinical guidelines on the management of Achalasia.

Joined by Dr. Stavros Antoniou (Chair Guidelines Committee, Greece), Prof. Milos Belovich (Bariatric Surgeon, Chair of Education & Training Committee. Serbia), and Assoc. Prof. Sonia Fernandez-Ananin (Consultant Upper GI & Bariatric Surgeon, Spain), the panel discusses how the guidelines were developed using rigorous evidence synthesis and the GRADE methodology, combining statistical analysis, expert consensus, and patient input.

The episode covers key treatment recommendations, including the role of Heller Myotomy with Fundoplication as the preferred option for patients with moderate to severe symptoms who are fit for surgery, and POEM (Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy) as an important alternative for those who are not surgical candidates or prefer a less invasive approach. Other options such as Pneumatic Dilation and Botox Injection are discussed in the context of symptom severity and long-term effectiveness.

A key focus throughout is shared decision-making, with many recommendations being conditional and requiring clinicians to balance evidence, patient preferences, and local access to treatments.

The conversation also reflects on the complexity of modern guideline development, the challenges of interpreting evolving evidence, and how participation in the process has influenced clinical practice.

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In this special International Women’s Day episode of Inside Surgery, host Dr Draga Mandi speaks with Ms Gita Lingam and Dr Georgia Kotoreni, surgeons who completed the women only, EAES Intuitive robotics discovery course at the Amsterdam Skills Centre.

Ms Lingam, a UK surgical trainee and research fellow in IBD and robotic surgery, and Dr Kotoreni, a general surgeon and PhD candidate in abdominal wall reconstruction in Greece, reflect on their experience in an all-women robotic training programme designed to build both technical expertise and professional community.

The conversation explores access to robotic training across different European healthcare systems, the challenges women face in gaining console time and certification, and the importance of mentorship, representation, and supportive learning environments. They discuss the value of high-fidelity simulation, tailored hands-on training, and the unique dynamic created when women surgeons train together.

Beyond the technical aspects, this episode examines belonging in surgery, the evolving landscape of robotic certification, and why dedicated spaces for women in surgical innovation remain essential. Released on International Women’s Day, the discussion highlights how community, visibility, and opportunity can shape the future of robotic surgery, and the next generation of women at the console.

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In this episode of Inside Surgery, host Dr Alice Tsai speaks with Dr Youness Ahallal, urologist and robotic surgeon, internationally recognised for pioneering telesurgery and advancing robotic surgery across Africa.

Dr Ahallal shares the story behind the world’s longest-distance robotic cancer surgery, performed between Shanghai and Morocco, and explains the four months of preparation required to make transcontinental telesurgery safe and feasible. The conversation explores signal latency, fibre-optic networks, AI-assisted motion stabilisation, and the teamwork required on both ends of a complex radical prostatectomy.

Beyond the technical achievement, Dr Ahallal reflects on his journey from Morocco to the United States and France, and his decision to return home to establish the first robotic surgery programme in North Africa. He discusses how telesurgery can shorten the learning curve for surgeons, support mentorship across distances, and improve equitable access to high-quality surgical care.

This episode highlights innovation in practice, the future of global surgical collaboration, and how technology can bridge geographic gaps in modern surgery.

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In this episode of Inside Surgery, host Dr. Draga Mandi speaks with Dr. Dragoș Eugen Georgescu, Romanian surgical oncologist, lecturer at Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, and EAES Fellowship awardee.

Dr. Georgescu reflects on his EAES Fellowship at the National Cancer Institute in Vilnius, sharing how immersive exposure to high-volume minimally invasive oncology reshaped his surgical practice. The conversation explores the value of stepping outside one’s comfort zone, the role of mentorship and technical refinement, and how international fellowships foster long-term professional growth, collaboration, and adaptability in modern European surgery.

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In this episode of Inside Surgery, host Dr. Draga Mandi speaks with Dr. Ludovica Baldari, a leading voice in fluorescence-guided surgery and the renowned “Baldari protocol.” Dr. Baldari discusses her journey with ICG, the crucial role of mentorship and sponsorship, and the importance of research and engineering collaboration. Together, they explore gender bias in surgical training, highlighting how instrument design often overlooks women’s ergonomics. She emphasizes the need for systemic change, representation, and collective European action to advance equity in surgery.

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In this episode of Inside Surgery, Prof. Tan Arulampalam speaks with Dr. Marek Soltés and Prof. Georg Bischof about the UEMS Board Examination in Minimally Invasive Surgery. They explain the purpose, structure, and value of the exam as a Europe-wide benchmark for surgical excellence, combining logbook assessment, theoretical testing, and practical OSCE skills evaluation. The discussion highlights how the exam supports harmonisation of training across countries, validates surgical mastery beyond national certifications, and enhances professional credibility. With growing international recognition, the UEMS exam is presented as a key step for surgeons committed to quality, lifelong learning, and high standards of patient care.

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This podcast is sponsored by Richard Wolf System Green, the real-time ICG/NIR solution for enhanced vision and saver decision in surgery.

Would you like to become a part of the EAES family? Become a member via https://eaes.eu/become-a-member