The annual meeting of the Portuguese Association of Otoneurology took place on 20 and 21 June in the Algarve. Despite the difficult times and the severe restrictions we are currently facing, the meeting was a success, with around 178 participants. We received submissions of around 40 papers for presentation as oral presentations and posters, and there were 12 exhibitors in attendance.
The annual meeting is the main gathering for its members and the various stakeholders in the field of otoneurology; it is intended to cut across the different relevant specialities and to encourage participation and attract new stakeholders to this field.
To this end, we have put together a programme designed to appeal to both ENT specialists and neurologists, as well as to both specialists and trainee doctors. To this end, a satellite course was also organised, entitled “Management of Patients with Vertigo”, which was attended by around 28 participants. The session covered topics ranging from the medical history and diagnostic approach to patients with vertigo to the treatment of positional vertigo.
The main topic of the meeting was acute vestibular syndrome – a natural extension of the winter meeting – which was discussed during a conference attended by neurologists and ENT specialists. Everyday clinical concepts were also discussed, such as emergencies in otoneurology and the new guidelines for managing Bell’s palsy. Another highly topical and pressing issue that was addressed was the medico-legal aspects of otoneurology, which are of increasing interest to all, with particular relevance to medical liability and the assessment of personal injury. This was reflected in the audience’s active participation, with a range of questions being raised, highlighting both the interest in the subject and the similarities and differences between public and private healthcare.
We were fortunate to have 21 national and 5 international speakers of recognised standing, who shared their expertise across seven lectures. We were joined by Dr Dario Yacovino and Dr Sérgio Carmona, both neurologists, who discussed, respectively, the management of oculomotor disorders, the treatment of superior canal positional vertigo and topodiagnostics. Dr Zuma e Maia spoke to us about the vestibular assessment of pilots, and Dr Regis Nouvian spoke about auditory neuropathy.
In conclusion, although organising the event proved to be a labour-intensive and challenging task, we believe the overall outcome was clearly positive, and we hope that everyone who took part enjoyed it. To all those who came to the Algarve, our heartfelt thanks, and we look forward to seeing you again next year.
See you next year, at the 2015 meeting.
