Minimally Invasive Complete Mesocolic Excision (CME) Course 2026

Course overview:

This two-day advanced course focuses on the principles, techniques, and technical nuances of Complete Mesocolic Excision (CME) using both laparoscopic and robotic approaches.

Day 1 emphasises core concepts, applied anatomy, and decision-making through expert lectures, interactive discussion, and video-based operative analysis.

Day 2 provides hands-on training on human body donors at The Griffin Institute, with close faculty supervision, focusing on stepwise CME, the critical-view concept, and specimen quality assessment.

Target audience:

This course is aimed at:

- Consultant colorectal surgeons
- Senior colorectal fellows

Appropriate experience in laparoscopic or robotic colorectal surgery is expected.

Learning objectives:

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

- Describe the anatomical and oncological principles underpinning CME.
- Apply the “open-book” and “critical-view” concepts to standardise dissection strategies.
- Identify key vascular pedicles and mesocolic planes intraoperatively to achieve safe and complete mobilisation.
- Recognise and manage common intraoperative challenges and complications in minimally invasive CME.
- Perform the essential steps of CME using laparoscopic and robotic techniques on human body donors.
- Evaluate specimen quality and understand its relationship to oncological outcomes and quality standards.

Course directors:

Mr Danilo Miskovic - Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, St Mark’s Hospital, London, UK.
Mr Adam Stearns - Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, UK.

Faculty

Professor Stefan Benz
University Hospital Tübingen, Germany

Professor Roland Croner
University Hospital Magdeburg, Germany

Professor Heiko Aselmann
Hannover Medical School, Germany

Professor Claus Anders Bertelsen
Hillrød Hospital and University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Programme:

Click here to view our programme (subject to change)

Venues:

Day 1: St Mark’s Hospital, London, UK
Day 2: The Griffin Institute, London, UK (Human Body Donor Laboratory)

Endorsed by: European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP)

Course fee: £1,100

Includes: Course materials, refreshments and lunches on both days, course dinner on day 1, and access to the human body donor laboratory (Day 2).

Places are limited to ensure optimal faculty-to-participant ratios in the wet lab. Early registration is strongly recommended.

This course is delivered in collaboration with the European Society of Coloproctology

This course is proudly sponsored by Meril

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Host or Publisher St Mark's Academic Institute