Bowel function is significantly affected after rectal surgery. While sphincter-preserving techniques aim to maintain anal continence, many patients experience a spectrum of bowel dysfunction, collectively known as Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS). LARS includes symptoms such as incontinence, constipation, urgency, and stool clustering, which can severely impact a patient’s quality of life. The prevalence of LARS is alarmingly high, affecting a majority of patients, and symptoms can persist for years after surgical treatment.

Target audience

• Gastroenterologists
• Colorectal surgeons
• Oncologists
• Nurses/Stoma therapists
• Primary care physicians

This course builds on foundational concepts to examine contemporary mechanisms driving GORD phenotypes. We revisit key epidemiological and clinical distinctions before exploring gastric physiology, including postprandial acid–bile dynamics, H. pylori-related acid output, motility patterns, obesity-related changes, and post-surgical anatomy. Oesophagogastric junction competence (LES pressure, TLESRs, hiatal hernia) and refluxate characteristics (acidic to gaseous; PPI-modified) are discussed with emphasis on symptom generation. We detail epithelial biology, micro- and macroinflammatory responses across NERD and erosive disease, and advances in nociceptive signalling, receptor expression, central modulation, and hypervigilance. Key clinical studies, cytokine-driven pathways, and emerging therapeutic approaches are highlighted. The course concludes with implications for diagnosis, phenotype-guided management, and outstanding research questions.

Building on the foundations covered in Part 1, this second course provides a deeper dive into the essential steps of guideline development. Participants will learn how to identify when a new guideline or statement is warranted, formulate focused clinical questions using PICO, and translate these into comprehensive search strategies. The course also covers the application of GRADE domains to assess evidence certainty, and guides learners through the Evidence-to-Decision framework. Finally, it clarifies the difference between good practice statements and formal guideline recommendations, ensuring participants gain the practical skills needed to contribute effectively to high-quality guideline development.

Target Audience:

• Healthcare professionals interested in developing guidelines
• Patients and stakeholders interested in understanding the process of guideline development

This comprehensive course introduces participants to the transformative role of artificial intelligence in gastroenterology. Designed for healthcare professionals, the course covers fundamental AI concepts, clinical applications, and research perspectives. Key topics include machine learning techniques, AI-assisted diagnostics, and the integration of AI systems in clinical practice. Participants will explore the benefits and challenges of AI adoption, ethical considerations, and the regulatory landscape, with an emphasis on evidence-based decision-making.

The course includes extensive PowerPoint presentations and tailored video lectures. Examples are used to demonstrate real-world applications of the material. The total duration of the course is approximately 50 minutes, with an estimated completion time of 60 minutes, including the final assessment.

Acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) remains the most severe form of UC and is sometimes associated with mortality. Adequate evaluation, early and correct intervention, and follow-up with a multidisciplinary approach are crucial in management. A comprehensive approach to ASUC, epidemiology, definition, diagnosis, evaluation, and medical and surgical management are all discussed in this online course by Haluk Tarik Kani, Irene Marafini, Joana Roseira, Wilhelmus A. Bemelman and Fernando Magro.

Target audience
We believe both gastroenterology trainees and early career gastroenterologists and surgeons will find in this online course a thorough and updated review on ASUC management.