History


🕓 Timeline of the International Society of Sympathetic Surgery (ISSS)


1993 – 1st Symposium (Borås, Sweden)

  • Organized by Dr. Gøran Claes & Dr. Christer Drott
  • Theme: Thoracoscopic Sympathicotomy
  • Invited speakers: Prof. Hederman (Ireland), Prof. Adar (Israel)
  • Included live surgical demonstrations
  • Start of international collaboration in sympathetic surgery


1997 – 2nd Symposium (Borås, Sweden)

  • Over 20 countries represented
  • Featured pre-meeting live surgeries
  • Expanded global interest in sympathetic surgery


1999 – 3rd Symposium (Kanazawa, Japan)

  • Organized by Prof. Ueyama
  • Established a biennial meeting schedule
  • Initial discussions on forming an international society


2000–2001 – Founding of ISSS

  • 2000 (Israel): Drs. Claes, Drott & Hashmonai drafted society bylaws
  • 2001 (Tampere, Finland – 4th Symposium) chaired by Dr. Telaranta
  • Formal establishment of the International Society of Sympathetic Surgery (ISSS)
  • First Executive Board:
  • President: Dr. Drott
  • Secretary: Prof. Hashmonai
  • Members: Drs. Telaranta, CC Lin, Schick, and Mr. A. Cameron (later confirmed)
  • 2002: First Board Meeting (Erlangen, Germany)


2003 – 5th Symposium (Erlangen, Germany)

  • Organized by Dr. Christoph Schick
  • Bylaws officially approved
  • Executive Board re-elected for two years
  • 2004 (Vienna): Dr. Drott resigned → Prof. Hashmonai became President; Mr. Cameron became Secretary
  • Initiated development of standard symptom questionnaire and operative nomenclature


2005 – 6th Symposium (Vienna, Austria)

  • Chaired by Dr. Bischof
  • Adoption of standardized questionnaire & terminology
  • Final approval of bylaws
  • Next venue chosen: Brazil (7th Symposium)
  • New Executive Board:
  • President: Prof. Hashmonai
  • Secretary: Mr. Cameron
  • Treasurer: Dr. Schick
  • Members: Dr. Bischof (Austria), Dr. Moon (Korea), Dr. Ribas Milanez de Campos (Brazil)


2006 – Board Meeting (Ipswich, UK)

  • Launch of official ISSS website
  • Contents: Society history, bylaws, aims, standard tools, and next symposium details
  • Became the main communication platform for ISSS members