1st Central and Eastern Europe ISSPP PIPAC Workshop
June 18-19th, 2026, Bucharest, Romania

S.T.I. Coordinator:
Cătălin Copăescu

Workshop Directors:
Olivia Sgarbură, Victor Tomulescu

International Faculty:
Mohammad Alyami Najran, Saudi Arabia), Delia Cortes-Guiral (Madrid, Spain), Martin Hübner (Lausanne, Switzerland), Olivia Sgarbură (Montpellier, France)

National Faculty:
Adrian Bartoş (Cluj, Romania), Roxana Bădescu (Bucharest, Romania), Nona Bejinariu (Bucharest, Romania), Dan Eniu (Sibiu, Romania), Laura Ianculescu (Bucharest, Romania), Amalia Roşu (Bucharest, Romania), Victor Tomulescu (Bucharest, Romania)

Dear Colleagues,

It is a distinct honor to welcome you to the 1st Central & Eastern Europe ISSPP PIPAC Workshop, hosted by the Surgical Training Institute in Bucharest.

This event represents an important milestone for our region, being the first ISSPP-endorsed PIPAC workshop dedicated to Central and Eastern Europe. It reflects our shared commitment to advancing the management of peritoneal surface malignancies through structured education, multidisciplinary collaboration, and responsible innovation.

Pressurized IntraPeritoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC) has emerged as a promising therapeutic option in selected patients with advanced peritoneal disease. Yet, the introduction of any innovative technology into clinical practice must be guided by scientific rigor, proper training, strict safety standards, and continuous evaluation of outcomes. Innovation alone is never sufficient; it must be supported by evidence, ethical responsibility, and collaborative expertise.

Through this workshop, we aim to create a regional platform where surgeons and medical oncologists can engage in meaningful dialogue, deepen their understanding of the biological and clinical rationale of PIPAC, and acquire the practical competencies required for safe implementation. By limiting participation to a focused multidisciplinary group, we seek to ensure intensive interaction, hands-on experience, and direct mentorship from internationally recognized experts.

As organizers, we firmly believe that excellence in oncologic care is built not only on technical proficiency, but also on critical thinking, research engagement, and long-term collaboration. We hope this workshop will serve as the foundation for future scientific partnerships and for the development of responsible PIPAC programs throughout Central and Eastern Europe.

We warmly welcome you to Bucharest and wish you an inspiring, productive, and forward-looking experience.

With our highest consideration,

Cătălin Copăescu, MD, PhD
Coordinator
Surgical Training Institute

Olivia Sgarbură, MD, PhD
Workshop Director
ISSPP Representative

Thursday, June 18th
Surgical Training Institute, Conference Room

08:30 – 09:00 Registration
09:00 – 09:15 Welcome & Overview
(Cătălin Copăescu, Olivia Sgarbură, Victor Tomulescu)

Foundational Module – Peritoneal Surface Malignancies
Moderators: Victor Tomulescu, Olivia Sgarbură

09:15 – 09:30 Management of ovarian PSM (Dan Eniu)
09:30 – 09:45 Management of digestive PSM (Martin Hübner)
09:45 – 10:00 Rare peritoneal malignancies – PMP and MPM (Olivia Sgarbură)
10:00 – 10:15 Networking for rare peritoneal malignancies (Adrian Bartoş)
10:15 – 10:30 The surgical–medical oncologist partnership is essential in metastatic disease management (Amalia Roşu)
10:30 – 10:45 Panel discussions

10:45 – 11:00 Coffee break

Module I – Why
Moderators: Martin Hübner, Amalia Roşu

11:00 – 11:10 Peritoneal anatomy (Delia Cortes-Guiral)
11:10 – 11:25 Why intraperitoneal treatment, why PIPAC (Mohammad Alyami)
11:25 – 11:35 Histopathology and implications for the PSM surgeon
(Nona Bejinariu)
11:35 – 11:45 Optimal imaging for PSM (Laura Ianculescu)
11:45 – 12:00 Ethical aspects (Delia Cortes-Guiral)
12:00 – 12:20 Panel discussions

12:20 – 12:30 Coffee break

Module II - PIPAC Essentials
Moderators: Delia Cortes-Guiral, Adrian Bartoş

12:30 – 12:45 PIPAC technology (Martin Hübner)
12:45 – 12:55 Occupational safety (Delia Cortes-Guiral)
12:55 – 13:05 Regulation and reimbursement (Mohammad Alyami)
13:05 – 13:15 How to start a PIPAC program (Martin Hübner)
13:15 – 13:25 PIPAC in Romania – a short account of the experience (Dan Eniu)
13:25 – 13:45 Panel discussions

13:45 – 14:30 Lunch break

Module III - Evidence and Core Knowledge
Moderators: Olivia Sgarbură, Martin Hübner

14:30 – 14:45 Preclinical data (Delia Cortes-Guiral)
14:45 – 15:00 Clinical evidence (Mohammad Alyami)
15:00 – 15:10 PIPAC drug regimens (Olivia Sgarbură)
15:10 – 15:25 Toxicity and potential complications (Olivia Sgarbură)
15:25 – 15:45 Panel discussions

15:45 – 16:00 Coffee break

Module IV - From theory to practice
Moderators: Mohammad Alyami, Amalia Roşu

16:00 – 16:15 PIPAC: How I do it, tips and tricks (Martin Hübner)
16:15 – 16:25 Anesthesia for PIPAC (Roxana Bădescu)
16:25 – 16:45 Indications and contraindications (Delia Cortes-Guiral)
16:45 – 17:10 Panel discussions.

Module V - Research and outlook
Moderators: Mohammad Alyami, Delia Cortes Guiral

17:10 – 17:20 PIPAC Registry (Mohammad Alyami)
17:20 – 17:35 Ongoing trials (Olivia Sgarbură)
17:35 – 17:55 PITAC: specifics and potential indications (Martin Hübner)
17:55 – 18:30 Panel discussions. Adjourn

Friday, June 19th
Surgical Training Institute, Conference Room

09:00 – 10:00 PIPAC Video Session (all faculty)
10:00 – 10:10 The policy on human care and use of laboratory animals
(Victor Tomulescu)

10:10 – 10:30 Coffee break

Hands-on training session
10:30 – 13:00 Participants will perform the PIPAC procedure in a controlled experimental setting, under direct faculty supervision.
The hands-on session will include:
• Operating room setup and safety verification
• Safe creation of pneumoperitoneum
• Trocar placement and exploration
• PCI assessment
• Proper positioning of the nebulizer
• Drug aerosolization protocol simulation
• Occupational safety measures and aerosol containment
• Procedure closure and post-procedural considerations
Training will be conducted in accordance with international safety standards and institutional policies regarding the ethical use of laboratory models.
Each participant will actively engage in the procedure to ensure acquisition of practical skills required for safe clinical implementation.

13:00 – 13:45 Lunch break

13:45 – 14:30 Quiz and Review Session (Mohammad Alyami)

14:30 – 15:00 Final remarks.
Closing ceremony.