Pediatric Esophageal Diseases School 29.9.2010 - 2.10.2010 Information

Dear colleagues!

Gastrointestinal tract is one of the most sophisticated tubes that nature (or God, if you want) ever created. It is a multifunctional organ system able to secrete, absorb, move, feel, ache, be a host for bilions of microorganisms and the biggest immune organ of the body. However, there is a very simple part of this tube. An esophagus. Being only a tube with only one duty. To pass food from mouth to stomach.

From the philosopher's part of view the esophagus is a rather boring organ. However, diseases of the esophagus, especially gastroesophageal reflux disease, are one of the most prevalent diseases of the humankind. Stomach came on the great stage with the discovery of H. pylori few decades ago. Thereafter the gastroenterologic society fought and nearly won the war against the frightening bug. But esophageal diseases… They are still here and they bring bitterness or, if you want bring sourness, to many people's everyday lives. There are new methods and techniques to improve diagnostics of esophageal disorders emerging every year. We learn how to discover not only acid but also non-acid, volume and duodenogastric reflux. There are new or newly recognized diseases like eosinophilic esophagitis emerging in our society. There are many poorly understood motoric disorders. And, I am sure, there is a certain overlap between them.

It is time for pediatric gastroenterologists to accumulate our knowledge about esophageal disease in children. Therefore, we are organising Pediatric Esophageal Disease School (PEDS) in Ljubljana, Slovenia, this autumn, to join the most prominent experts for different esophageal disease in children in the world with colleagues who would like to learn both theoretically and practically how to diagnose and treat them. I am proud to say that University Children's Hospital in Ljubljana has both the equipment and the experience to host such a meeting. There will be enough place, time and opportunity for everybody to interract with experts, to train and learn the skills of most important diagnostic procedures and to discuss different therapeutical options.

Oh, I know. Esophagus is my favorite playground (Professionally. In private there are still some naughty parts of the female body giving me more pleasure). It may be difficult to turn your interest to the organ which is, maybe, only a simple tube. However, I strongly believe, that after Pediatric Esophageal Disease School no one of you would think of the esophagus as »only a simple tube« any more.



Assist. Prof. Rok Orel, M.D., Ph. D.
President of PEDS