Dear colleagues and friends,

This is my first letter as President of the MSCP and let me apologize for this unwanted delay, which I regret sincerely.

Some Companies took a long time for making effective their financial contribution to the Congress held in Madrid last June and I couldn’t report about this just until now. Today, the Secretary of the Congress sent me a detailed note of all incomes and expenses and it is my pleasure to inform that there is a positive balance which will be deposited in the account of the Society. I enclose that note as open information for all members of the Society.  Leaving apart this introduction, I wish that my first words be for the last President Dr. Ioannis Kanellos. I want to thank him for his activity as President and for his continuous stimulus and wise advices for the organization of the meeting in Madrid. In the same way, I also want to mention the very special help given by Dr. Mario Pescatori. Thank you very much Ioannis and Mario. But no less important was the contribution from you all. Without the suggestions for the elaboration of the scientific program and particularly without the attendance and outstanding participation of all of you who made the effort to come to Madrid, the Congress wouldn’t have been at all possible or it would have been a failure. Thank you very much for your support.

From my viewpoint, the Congress was very successful, not only regarding the number of attendants (151) in such a difficult economic situation particularly affecting the Mediterranean countries, but also from the scientific side. The lectures, podium presentations and the informal discussions about live surgeries were full of interest and unanimously considered as excellent.  The performances of each one of the operations were optimal and, happily, all operated patients did well, without any complication. Most of them were cured of their respective diseases and all improved significantly their previous condition. I am very glad to let their surgeons know that all patients expressed their gratitude for that. The social program also allowed us to share a relaxing time in a very friendly atmosphere and this was an important part of the success of the Congress. I apologize if I didn’t it better, but believe me that the organizers dedicated a lot of time to achieve the best we could do. I personally wrote more than 800 hundred e-mails. The most negative aspect and my main frustration were the incapacity to contact colorectal surgeons from most of the South-Mediterranean countries, despite my personal efforts. I missed attendants from all those countries except Egypt and Israel and, as President of the Society, I wish that each Mediterranean country be represented in the Society. This will be one of my main tasks for the coming two years. In any case, let me ask all members of the Society to make an effort to contact new potential members and facilitate to our Secretary their mail or fax addresses. Please, do it. Some last words about the Congress. Fortunately, the economic balance was positive and this is very important for the survival of the Society. However, this is not enough and unless we all make an effort, sooner or later the Society will die.  There are some ways to keep it alive, but first thing is to pay regularly the annual fees. In that sense, we will let you know how to do it easily.

There are a lot of issues concerning the academic activities of the Society and its further orientation. I encourage you all to participate actively by expressing your opinions and ideas through our website.

Finnally, I want to congratulate and welcome the new members of the Council and in a very especial way  Dr. Olfat-el-Sibai for her appointment as the President of next Congress in Cairo. Needless to say that all the MSCP Committee is at the disposal of her.

Dr. Pramateftakis will soon contact you informing about the lines and projects.

I look forward to meeting any of you again.

With my best wishes to you all

J.Manuel Devesa

The volume is authored by a colorectal surgeon with long-standing clinical and scientific experience and is devoted to the management of complications following surgery of the anorectum and the pelvic floor. It is aimed not only at general surgeons, perineologists and, of course, proctologists, but also at gastroenterologists, endoscopists, radiologists and physiotherapists, i.e. those who may be involved in both diagnosis and cure whenever an adverse event, either unpredictable or potentially preventable, causes an intra- or postoperative, early or late, mild or life-threatening complication. Severe bleeding, dehiscence, perforation, anorectal stricture, fecal incontinence, and even caval vein thrombosis, fatal Fournier gangrene and pneumomediastinum may occur after anal surgery. The incidence, pathogenesis prevention and treatment of such events are discussed in detail in 10 chapters with 30 tables, 200 illustrations and more than 1000 references. Both conventional procedures and recent innovations are reported. “Unforgettable clinical cases (complications with litigation)” and “Tips and Tricks” are sections increasing the appeal of this book. The approach is “evidence-based” and holistic, focusing on anorectal problems while taking into consideration whole body-mental unity—showing, for example, that a non-healing perineal wound may be due to hypo-pituitarism, and failure after a re-intervention may be related to psychological distress.

Link to Springer