ASPAN 2015 and ASPAN 2016 were highly successful clinical meetings located in Newcastle Australia, focussing on the management of pancreatic disease whilst recognising the importance of the involvement of multiple disciplines. The implementation of a primarily case-based format as opposed to lectures was found to be uniquely  effective in communicating a large amount of information in a relatively short amount of time and led to a high degree of discussion both amongst panel members and also with the audience.

There have been a number of changes taking place over the past 18 months that resulted in the meeting for 2017 having to be postponed, however I am happy to report the meeting will be back bigger and better from 2018 under the stewardship of the Australasian Pancreatic Club. Into the future, ASPAN will become a broader platform for dissemination of all things pancreatic, with a clinically focussed stream to the meeting as before but will now also include a scientific research stream with the aim of drawing scientific and clinical research groups closer together. Although not part of the meeting this year, in the future we plan to continue with the dietician stream and are looking at incorporating a stream specific for nursing staff caring for patients with pancreatic disease as well.

The next meeting is planned to be held in Brisbane on Friday 7th September, 2018, immediately prior to the Australasian Gastroenterology Week.

The clinical stream of the meeting will once again implement a primarily panel-driven format with case studies and ample opportunity for questions to stimulate discussion and to hear alternative perspectives. The scientific stream will be presenting late-breaking research from Australia and international labs and we are planning a combined clinical-scientific session to bring these two important areas of knowledge together.

Clinical topics for review include:

  • Recent changes to the management algorithms of patients with acute pancreatitis such as the importance of intravenous fluid resuscitation and timing of enteral feeding in addition to covering genetic predisposition looking particularly at cystic fibrosis
  • An overview of the management of pancreatic duct stones in the era of digital SpyGlass, direct pancreatoscopy and ESWL.
  • A review of the diagnostic criteria for borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma including staging and the relevance of tissue, an assessment of the evidence for neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and criteria for consideration of surgical resection
  • When to consider tissue acquisition in patients who are identified as being at risk of malignancy
  • Changes to the criteria for the diagnosis, management and surveillance of patients with IPMN and autoimmune pancreatitis 
  • A discussion of nutritional considerations in the patient with pancreatic disease and when to consider pancreatic enzyme replacement.
  • Step up  approach to the management of walled off pancreatic necrosis with a focus on minimally invasive techniques.. 

The meeting has been conceived as a forum to bring together the many different groups of practitioners who manage patients with pancreatic disease in the one meeting with the overall aim of improving our knowledge to optimise the investigation and management of these complex patients.