EAES Guidelines for Endoscopic Surgery.pdf - E-Lib FK UWKS

VI
Preface
as possible, early in the development of new indications when evidence was
still sparse, to prevent harm and to critically appraise the potential benefits
of this new technology. A novel type of CDC was developed including essential
elements of the NIH process such as panel selection by specific transparent
criteria, a formal consensus procedure, and specific statements formulated
as guidelines. Up until 1999, six CDCs took place including topics such
as laparoscopic cholecystectomy, appendectomy, hernia repair, surgery for
gastroesophageal reflux disease, treatment of common bile duct stones, and
colonic diverticular disease.
Owing to the evolving field of evidence-based medicine with rigorous
evaluation of the scientific evidence and the necessity to keep CDC statements
in synchronous pace with medical knowledge, the EAES ad hoc committee,
under the guidance of Neugebauer and within the Scientific Committee
of the EAES, started a critical revision of the consensus methodology at
the EAES conference in 1999 in Linz, Austria. Moreover, it was felt that there
was a need for improved methods of dissemination and implementation of
these EAES guidelines. One of the key factors for acceptance and impact of
clinical practice guidelines is the strength and validity of the development
process itself. The critical appraisal and analysis showed that further improvement
was needed in identification, evaluation, synthesis of scientific
evidence, as well as for the transparency of the recommendations. This was
achieved by connecting the levels of scientific evidence with the grades of recommendation,
through participation of all relevant stakeholders in the
guideline panel, and application of formal consensus development methods.
With use of this updated methodology, starting in Maastricht in 2001, evidence-based
guidelines have been developed for the creation of pneumoperitoneum,
laparoscopic surgery in colonic cancer, quality of life after laparoscopic
surgery, obesity surgery, and laparoscopy for abdominal emergencies.
After open discussion between the panel and all members of the EAES at the
annual congresses of the EAES in 2-h plenary sessions, and diligent work of
the ad hoc committee, all evidence-based guidelines have been expediently
published over the years in Surgical Endoscopy, the official organ of the
EAES, for quick and wide dissemination.
Endoscopic surgery is still an area of rapid development. Nearly not one
month goes by without new studies being published that need to be examined
to link and relate the new information to the impact on existing guidelines.
Regular updates are therefore necessary. The first update, concerning
the guidelines developed from the start until 1999, was published in the
Springer booklet released at the EAES Congress in Nice (2000) [1]. It was
only natural that a new book be undertaken. The Berlin EAES and World
Congress was the ideal occasion to publish a further and ever so necessary
update. It summarizes all the original recommendations, followed by updates