On 10-12 April and 25-27 April 2010, 9th and 10th editions of the international “Window Approach Workshop” took place in Kajetany.
The “Window Approach Workshop” are organised with the aim of exchanging knowledge and information on new surgery methods and application of the state-of-the-art technical solutions – hearing implants – between surgeons and experts dealing with the hearing disorders from Europe and all over the world
The WAW9 and 10 workshops were organised by the Sense Organs Institute in cooperation with Med-El and Advanced Bionics companies.
During the WAW9 workshop, original methods for implanting cochlear implants in the case of persons with partial deafness and implants of middle ear in the case of mixed hearing impairments using surgery access through the round window, developed by the Institute, were presented. Participants of the meeting learned surgery techniques presented during surgeries which were transmitted to the conference hall. Participants of the WAW10 workshop had an opportunity to learn techniques for implanting cochlear implants both using the access through the round window in the case of partial deafness, and using the traditional access through cochleostomy in the case of the total deafness.
19 demonstration surgeries were carried out in total during the workshops using Med-El electrodes (Flex and M type electrodes and the standard electrode), as well as Advanced Bionics electrode. The surgeries were preceded by presentations of individual cases prepared by dr Monika Matusiak, as well as the Institute team. Participants also attended a series of lectures given by professor Henryk Skarżyński, dr Artur Lorens and dr Arkadiusz Wąsowski, Anita Obrycka, Małgorzata Zgoda, as well as representatives of Med.-El and Advanced Bionics companies.
During the WAW 10, management of the Institute and the International Centre awarded the Friend Forever title to Advanced Bionics company. Professor Skarżyński handed the commemorative plate to the Sales Manager for East and Central Europe and South Asia – Christoph Zimmer.
The WAW workshop was accompanied by a practical training carried out at the Laboratory for the Clinical Anatomy and Pathomorphology of the Head and Neck, led by the laboratory head Krzysztof Krasucki, and supported by doctors: Piotr Skarżyński and Monika Matusiak.
The “Window Approach Workshop” attracts interest of participants from all over the world. 35 surgeons and experts in total from Austria, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Denmark, Spain, India, Germany, Portugal, Singapur, Serbia, Romania, Ukraine and USA took part in both meetings. After the anniversary tenth meeting, there are already next ones planned to take place in August and September 2010.
