Dear Y-ECCO Friends,

I hope you are all doing well and enjoyed an insightful and interesting ECCO Congress in Stockholm recently. At ECCO 2024, the Y-ECCO Team had to say goodbye to our outgoing Chair, Mark Samaan, who has been exemplary in the role over the past year. On behalf of the entire Y-ECCO Community, thanks Mark! It has been an absolute pleasure working with you, while further expanding the committee under your leadership.

The theme of the 19^th ECCO Congress in Stockholm, “Crossing borders in IBD”, was reflected in the aim of our educational meeting, which extended beyond the histopathological aspects of IBD. The objective was to highlight the collaboration between different specialisations, mirroring the multidisciplinary nature of our daily practice.  This was clearly evident in the various topics covered during our initial session. Additionally, the Congress theme resonated in the diverse composition of our audience. Feedback revealed an equal division between pathologists and specialists from other fields. 

Iva Hojsak, who has recently joined the P-ECCO Committee, is a paediatric gastroenterologist and head of the Paediatric Department and deputy director of the Children's Hospital Zagreb, Croatia. Iva graduated from the Medical School of Zagreb, where she also received her PhD. She was subsequently elected as assistant professor at University of Zagreb Medical School and University of J.J. Strossmayer Medical School.

Peter Kienle © ECCO

The 13^th S-ECCO IBD Masterclass within the 19^th ECCO Congress completed a return to normality, this being the second time in a row that we were able to meet in person with colleagues focusing on IBD surgery without the ghost of COVID hovering above us. Pär Myrelid, having successfully and calmly steered S-ECCO through a challenging year, opened the first session and welcomed us heartily in his home country.

Chen Sarbagili Shabat  © ECCO

We were in Stockholm for the 9^th D-ECCO Workshop! The workshop was full, with 162 attendees including not only dietitians but also a great mix of specialists from all over the world. Lihi Godny, the D-ECCO Chair, opened the workshop by presenting the various opportunities available to all IBD Dietitian Members, including the D-ECCO Grant and four Travel Awards.

Chen Sarbagili Shabat  © ECCO

The D-ECCO Committee would like to express gratitude to Lihi Godny, the retiring D-ECCO Chair, for her invaluable contribution in formulating and promoting a variety of opportunities for all IBD Dietitians.

Stockholmsmässan, also known as Älvsjömässan, the largest exhibition and conference facility in Sweden, hosted the 18^th N-ECCO Network Meeting. A total of 295 IBD Nurses from Europe and beyond were attracted by the interesting programme, in order to share current practice and research in the management of IBD. 

The first morning session focused on the patient. It opened with a talk by Christine Norton (UK) on some often overlooked major patient concerns: pain, fatigue, urgency and incontinence. With passion, Sebastian Shaji (UK) gave an update on perianal and fistulising CD. Pär Myrelid and Åsa Gustafsson, both from Sweden, discussed care of the patient with stoma and pouch in a tandem talk in which they adopted a sensitive, realistic and open approach. Gionata Fiorino (Italy) then presented treatment options for patients with a previous malignancy, a hot topic that worries patients a lot.

Adriana Rivera Sequeiros © ECCO

On February 21 of this year, Stockholm became the hub for groundbreaking discussions at the 8^th N-ECCO Research Forum during the 19^th ECCO Congress. Designed to spotlight the pivotal role of specialised nursing in managing IBD, this biannual gathering underscored the importance of Europe-wide nursing collaboration in research and mentoring the next generation of IBD Research Nurses.

Marie Andersson © ECCO

Some weeks have already passed since the 15^th edition of the N-ECCO School took place in Stockholm, attended by 98 participants. 

I can still remember my first N-ECCO School in Prague in 2010, when I was attending the ECCO Congress there. That was my very first international congress. At the time I was a nurse had not worked for very long with IBD. I was very nervous about travelling alone to a large congress without knowing anyone and also very unsure of the English language. Would I be able to handle it? What if I couldn’t understand what was being said or answered incorrectly if asked a question? I believe there are many of you who will recognise yourself in these comments.  

Hannah Gordon © ECCO

Michel Adamina © ECCO

The ECCO Guidelines for the management of Crohn’s Disease are among the most influential guidelines informing and guiding patient care worldwide. They are updated every 4 years and their latest iteration is about to be published following a plenary presentation at the recent ECCO Congress in Stockholm.