It is my honour and a privilege to invite you to the 14th European Congress of Trauma and Emergency Surgery (ECTES) in Lyon in 2013.

Lyon was founded as Lugdunum in 43 BC and became the capital of Gaul in 27 BC. Our ambition is to make Lyon the world capital of trauma and emergency surgery for one week in May 2013. Trauma has been defined as the neglected disease of modern society. This could also apply to emergency surgery. How surprising to see the difficulties to find a bed or to schedule a trauma or emergency surgery patient in the OR, or the unfair competition that often arises between emergency and elective cases, recently compounded by budget restrictions.

All of us are concerned by trauma and emergency surgery. A change in the culture of trauma and emergency surgery is needed. Leaders have come forward and must make inroads such that trauma and emergency surgery become foremost in the European setting. Forums during the meetings organized by the European Society for Trauma and Emergency Surgery (ESTES) such as ECTES Lyon 2013 are highly awaited.

Trauma and emergency surgery is challenging. Challenging because multidisciplinary management, strongly recommended, has to be well organized. Challenging because the best specialist is seldom available when needed, and the surgeon in charge has often but a general surgery background. Challenging because very promising mini-invasive techniques and alternatives to surgery often touted as life-saving, require sound indications and execution. Challenging because of ethic issues as for instance futile care and organ retrieval from non-heart beating donors. Challenging because a new speciality called “Acute Care Surgery” is emerging. We plan to deal with all these challenging topics during ECTES Lyon 2013.

Paramedics, nurses, emergency physicians, anaesthesiologists, intensivists, radiologists and surgeons of different specialities have to continue to work together. They have to know each other to increase efficiency. They need a common culture to make good choices in the right moment. To strengthen this collaboration between all concerned, ESTES is officially inviting other scientific societies to exchange ideas and expertise in the field of trauma and emergency surgery during ECTES Lyon 2013.

The scientific program is designed both for those who work primarily in an emergency setting and for those who need an update as they take emergency calls. The most eminent experts in Europe and in the World in the fields of prehospital emergency care, emergency medicine, anaesthesiology, disaster and military medicine, radiology, and surgery (general, visceral, orthopaedic,trauma, vascular, thoracic…) will share their knowledge and experience with the audience. Pre and post-congress courses will complete medical education for junior and senior staff. ECTES Lyon 2013 is the ideal place to present research at an international and European level. Working together to save lives is the motto of ECTES Lyon 2013. Working together means training together, providing care together, performing research together, making inroads together.

Lyon is a wonderful town, with prestigious history, irrigated by two superb rivers the Rhône and the Saône. It is the French capital of gastronomy where a world known third river flows: the Beaujolais. After very intensive and fruitful conferences, courses and presentations, all of us will be able to take advantage of the Art de vivre lyonnais.

Bienvenue à Lyon en mai 2013 !

Eric Voiglio

Veranstaltungsort: CITE - Lyon Convention Centre, 50 Quai Charles de Gaulle, 69463 Lyon cedex 06, France