The Indian Society of Gastroenterology, in association with Indian Association for the Study of the Liver (INASL) and Society of the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy of India (SGEI) will conduct its 44th annual conference in Chennai from November 20th to 24th, 2003.

The meet will begin with a Continuous Medical Education (CME) programme, organized in association with Mayo Clinic USA, with faculty from USA, UK, Canada and Australia.

The programme would discuss topics like diarrhea, constipation and genetics in liver disease, management of liver failure and temporary liver-support devices (liver dialysis), according to Dr. KR Palaniswamy, organizing secretary of the conference.

He said highlight of the meet would be symposia on 'Hepatitis B', a lesser known but equally disastrous disease like 'Hepatitis C'. The meet would also discuss gastro related diseases like cancer in the pancreas, alcohol induced liver damage, malabsorption and liver transplant, complications like gastrointestinal bleeding, stones in the bile duct that could lead to jaundice and serious infections, chronic pancreatitis etc. besides emerging modern techniques and equipments in gastro endoscopy, said Dr. Palaniswamy.

The meet will have a special satellite session to discuss gastro esophageal reflux disorder, an emerging common problem among patients. On the last day of the conference, the organizers in association with the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy will conduct an extensive endoscopy course with video assistance to teach the latest techniques in the field. Experts from various parts of the world would attend the conference faculty, said Dr. Palaniswamy.

The meet will be inaugurated by N Thalaivi Sundaram, Tamil Nadu state health minister.