Where do you come from? Spain
How long have you been an EHS member?
A few months, since we set up the Complex Abdominal Wall Unit as such, and I started working exclusively on hernia.
Describe a day work as a surgeon in your country:
We typically have three operating room days each week. The day starts early with a service-wide meeting, followed by rounds to see inpatients before heading to the operating room. We then begin surgeries, often working late into the night. In between, we always find time for a quick bite to eat or a coffee. On days without scheduled surgeries, I spend my time in consultations, on call, or preparing research projects and collecting data.
What is your favourite AWR procedure/hernia surgery?
What I like the most is the e-TEP both for the Rives-Stoppa and for component separation, and even more when we have the robot platform and it can be done through it, the vision it gives you is incredible and every plane is perfectly visualised.
Why is it your favourite procedure?
Because it has united minimally invasive abdominal wall surgery with the retromuscular treatment that we did before, it allows us to see each plane in a way that even in open surgery we did not have, and it is even allowing us to discover new aspects of the anatomy. I think its development potential is incredible.
Who inspired you to become a hernia enthusiast/surgeon?
Dr LĂłpez MonclĂşs, I met him during my training as a surgeon and his way of understanding abdominal wall surgery and his way of being, tremendously close, made me understand this world. Later, I was lucky enough to work with him as a chief and his ability to make you develop your best version makes you passionate about this field.
Please, give a small tip or trick to share for this or any other hernia procedure?
The most important thing for hernia surgery is to know the anatomy perfectly, from there it is about navigating between the spaces we know, and breaking down the barriers that separate them.
Have you attended an EHS congress, meeting, or course?
Yes, I have attended the one in Manchester, the one in Barcelona and recently the one in Prague.
If yes, which made the biggest impression on you?
The one in Manchester, because it was the first one I went to and I found it very interesting.
What made it great?
I thought the scientific program was interesting and quite well structured.
How can the EHS help you in the future?
Continuing to attend courses and congresses to be able to advance in training and to keep in touch with other surgeons to share advances, I think this is what enriches our profession the most.
What is your dream for the future of hernia surgery?
That we continue to advance in anatomical and technical knowledge. Hernia surgery has grown exponentially in recent years and there has been a real revolution in techniques and outcomes, which promises to improve the quality of life of our patients.
