Czech gastroenterologists have had a professional society bringing them together for eight decades. What can be considered the greatest progress in the field in recent years, which topics were highlighted at the 8th Congress of Czech Gastroenterologists, and how are they coping with current challenges in clinical practice? We discussed this with Assoc. Prof. MUDr. Ilja Tachecí, Ph.D., Head of the 2nd Department of Internal Gastroenterology and President of the Czech Gastroenterological Society of the Czech Medical Association J. E. Purkyně.
As in other medical specialties, artificial intelligence (AI) is attracting great attention in gastroenterology as well. Moreover, it is gradually becoming part of everyday clinical practice. It is applied in endoscopy, where it helps with the detection and classification of lesions during colonoscopy and with the assessment of procedural quality. AI-assisted systems are already being tested in several Czech endoscopic centers.
“Standardization of endoscopic findings is also gradually developing — an effort to unify how individual centers describe and store data. This will enable more efficient sharing and analysis of examination results. The biggest challenge so far remains the integration of hospital systems and the establishment of a clear legislative and economic framework. However, the direction is clear — AI is becoming a natural part of modern endoscopy,” says Assoc. Prof. Tachecí.
AI was not the only topic among the congress “hot topics” — discussions also covered telemedicine in the long-term follow-up of patients with chronic gastrointestinal diseases, advanced resection techniques, EUS-guided therapy, and colorectal cancer screening. “Areas connected with AI, digitalization, and screening clearly overlap with other medical specialties as well,” the head of Czech gastroenterologists points out.
In addition to idiopathic inflammatory bowel diseases, where therapeutic development is traditionally very dynamic and aligns well with the principles of personalized medicine, attention was also focused on reviewing the goals of pancreatic cancer screening, which was launched one year ago.
“A network of specialized centers has been created, and a standardized approach for identifying and monitoring high-risk patient groups has been introduced, particularly carriers of genetic mutations and individuals with a positive family history. In clinical practice, the use of EUS and MRI for early lesion detection is expanding, and systematic data collection and analysis of detected findings are being established. In the future, we would like to expand the program nationwide, secure sustainable funding, and complement existing algorithms with new biomarkers that could help more accurately estimate cancer risk,” summarizes Assoc. Prof. Tachecí.
A major strength of the field is the network of endoscopic centers, which has expanded significantly in recent years and now covers most of the country. To ensure high-quality care even outside large university hospitals, increasing emphasis is placed on standardizing procedures, sharing expertise, and practical education, including fellowships and hands-on courses at highly specialized centers, according to Assoc. Prof. Tachecí.
Improving access to endoscopy is also crucial because therapeutic endoscopy is currently undergoing a fundamental shift. “Procedures that previously required surgery can now be performed minimally invasively using endoscopic techniques — often with immediate effect and without the need for hospitalization,” he explains, highlighting the greatest recent progress in the field.
The Czech Gastroenterological Society of the Czech Medical Association J. E. Purkyně emphasizes not only regional but also intergenerational cooperation. Representatives of the Young Gastroenterologists Section also spoke at the congress; they are very active and develop topics reflecting current trends. “Thanks to this, we are able to naturally connect experienced experts with the younger generation and move the entire field forward,” Assoc. Prof. Tachecí concludes.
Editorial Team, Medscope.pro
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