The 13th International Congress on Ambulatory Surgery, taking place in Porto in 2019, reflects the availability and openness of the scientific ecosystem of Porto, by bringing together some of the most prominent researchers in the field of health in general, and of ambulatory surgery in particular. We can, thus, claim that the receptiveness of the scientific atmosphere of a city has the gift of enabling new liaisons as well as promoting the cherishing of a new knowledge. On the other hand, we must never forget that when we speak of our city, we are, actually, speaking of a sea port: a venue of departures, arrivals, exchanges, trade, and development.
Hence my wish to extend to all the intervenient in the 13th International Congress on Ambulatory Surgery a welcoming message. Porto is a unique city, a metropolis that by its dimension and features so special captivates all those who visit it. It is not only the architecture, or the heritage that enchant the foreigners, it is mostly its people whose character so peculiar makes everybody feel at home. I sincerely wish that you all feel in Porto as you do at home, I wish you get to know our identity, and take advantage of your partaking in this meeting to find out what is going on here in the fields of research and science.
Looking forward to seeing you in Porto, we trust you will enjoy this 13th International Congress on Ambulatory Surgery and also the city of Porto, awarded with the Best European Destination for 2012, 2014 and 2017.
Rui Moreira
Mayor of Porto
Ambulatory Surgery had a big improvement in Portugal in the last decade and APCA hopes that this area will remain one of the priorities in the agenda of our country's health policies, as it plays a major role in the economic sustainability of the NHS.
The 13th International Congress of Ambulatory Surgery, to be held in May 2019, will be an excellent opportunity to show you all the good work that we are doing in our ASC in Portugal and also the expression and worldwide growth of AS.
The Organizing Committee will define a High-level Scientific Program covering the most current topics related to AS, including Innovation, new surgical and anesthetic trends and new technologies and will be invited speakers that are reference elements in this area worldwide.
About 2,000 delegates from all over the world are expected. who will then take to their countries the main updates and conclusions resulting from Porto 2019.
APCA ends in May 2019 the celebration of its twentieth anniversary and invites everyone to join us in our celebrations.
The Organizing Committee invites everyone to visit Porto, try our food, taste some Port Wine and enjoy our fantastic city.
500 years ago the Portuguese discovered the world ...
Now its time for you to come and discover Portugal and Porto ...
Come and join us! Be part of the best IAAS International Congress!
Carlos Magalhães
President, Portuguese Ambulatory Surgery Association
The IAAS holds international congresses every two years, and we are honored to have our 2019 13th Congress in Porto.
We will have an outstanding interactive educational program, with plenary and specialty sessions for anesthesiologists, surgeons, nurses and administrators – multidisclinary learning, just as we work in the ambulatory surgery environment. There will be sessions for the novice as well as the experienced, trainee as well as practitioner. We will also have dedicated sessions for your research, to share with everyone the advances that you are creating – please submit!
And with all this, an excellent opportunity to meet old friends and make new ones.
See you in May!
Beverly K. Philip, MD
Vice President for Scientific Affairs, American Society of Anesthesiologists
President, International Association for Ambulatory Surgery
Professor of Anaesthesia, Harvard Medical School
Founding Director, Day Surgery Unit Brigham and Women's Hospital
On behalf of the Spanish Association for Ambulatory Surgery (ASECMA) is pleasure for me to invite you to the 13th International Congress on Ambulatory Surgery, that will take place in Porto in 2019, along with the 11th Portuguese and 7th Iberian Congresses. I have not any doubt about the high scientific level that the Congress will reach and I am sure that participation will be successful. From the social point of view, I know that Porto offers a huge possibilities for enjoying our free time
In my opinion, we will have an excellent opportunity to share experiences and to develop very interesting sessions. Moreover, I think is time to include in the IAAS many countries of South America and Africa. For no English speakers from those continents, it will be attractive to attend different lectures and workshops in Portuguese or Spanish. We have a chance to increase the knowledge of Ambulatory Surgery in many countries.
I look forward to seeing you in Porto.
Luis A. Hidalgo Grau
President of the Executive Committee of ASECMA.
Ambulatory Surgery is one of the areas with the greatest growth in the world in the last years, being one of the main solutions to improve the capacity in hospital medical services.
The benefits of AS are recognized and accepted worldwide and its time to make this area a clear priority for all health decision makers.
APCA and Porto were chosen by the IAAS Executive Committee for the organization of the next Ambulatory Surgery World Congress, to be held in May 2019.
This Congress will take place in one of the the reference spaces of our city - Edifício Alfândega - and will certainly remain a decisive mark in the worldwide growth and implementation of AS.
The Scientific program will be of high quality, joining all those who are world references in this area.
I leave the invitation to all of you to visit the city of Porto and to have an active participation in what will certainly be, the largest World Congress of AS ever held.
Mayor of Porto
President of The Portuguese Republic
President of APCA
Consultive Committee - President
Organizing Committee - President
Organizing Committee - Vice President
Scientific Commitee - President
Scientific Commitee - President
International Executive Committee
Marc Coppens; Jose Manuel Cordero; Petra Tietze-Schnur; Vicente Vieira