ICCIR: The world’s only meeting on complications in IR

January 31, 2025

Prof. Klaus Hausegger founded the International Conference on Complications in Interventional Radiology (ICCIR) in 1998 with the wish to create a forum for interventionists to openly discuss complications in their field. Organized by CIRSE since 2010, this biennial meeting has allowed thousands of participants to share complications, solutions, and valuable lessons learned with colleagues from the world over.

This year’s ICCIR will again take place in beautiful Pörtschach, Austria, from May 22-24. The event brings together leading experts as well as novices in the field to review challenging cases in a contemplative, supportive environment. Given the importance of the topic at hand, the faculty is carefully selected, and overall participation is limited. The programme is comprised of presentations and case reports hand-picked to ensure frank, informative discussions, as well as keynote lectures from leaders in the field.  This open forum allows young doctors to learn from the experiences of their established colleagues and is also beneficial for IRs who are extending their practices to new techniques and wish to be aware of what to look out for.

Keynote lectures in 2025 will include talks on minimizing health risks for interventionalists, communications skills, the second victim of complications, and the question of if there is an ideal complication classification.

As for the rest of the programme – case submission for ICCIR 2025 is open until February 6, 23:59 CET! All authors who wish to present a case are welcome to submit their abstract.

Registration is currently open. We spoke to Scientific Programme Committee Chairpersons Prof. Klaus Hausegger and Prof. Florian Wolf to hear their thoughts on the importance of this meeting.

CIRSE: What does ICCIR mean to you? What is your personal motivation to lead this meeting?

Hausegger: I initiated this meeting in 1998 in Graz, Austria, while I was affiliated with the Medical University of Graz. Thus, in a sense, this meeting is my baby. My motivation to lead this meeting has remained unchanged over the years. It is easy to discuss success and positive outcomes, but it is much more challenging to address failures – even though everyone in our field encounters them. Success in any field requires self-confidence. However, being a good IR also demands self-reflection and self-criticism. It should be a general rule to always ask, ‘Have I done a good job?’, ‘What could I have done better?’, and ‘What went wrong and why?'” I have always aimed to instil this mindset in the meeting, and my motivation has never wavered.”

Wolf: I’ve known the ICCIR meeting for a long time. I took part as a junior presenter in the early days of the meeting and have been a faculty member in recent years. I’ve always enjoyed the meeting immensely and through it I have learned how to solve different types of complications. Solving complications in IR means creativity, spontaneity, and making fast and clear decisions. For me personally, ICCIR is the most important and helpful meeting in the IR world. It is often relatively easy to start and implement different IR procedures. But the real challenge is to solve complications since you normally are not prepared for that.

CIRSE: Why should IRs submit an abstract to ICCIR?

Hausegger: Talking about failures or mistakes can be challenging, reducing the motivation to submit an abstract. However, it offers several benefits. First, submitting a case prompts a detailed re-analysis, increasing personal knowledge. Second, sharing your experience helps other IRs avoid similar mistakes, ultimately benefiting patients.

Wolf: Submitting cases to the ICCIR gives the participants a chance to discuss their cases with a very experienced international faculty in a safe surrounding.

CIRSE:  What can attendees expect to gain from this meeting?

Hausegger: Attendees will hear over 45 presentations on complications in various fields of interventional radiology. Each case is followed by an engaging discussion, addressing possible improvements, prevention, and management of complications in an unbiased and friendly manner.

Wolf: Attendees will travel home from the meeting with new ideas and strategies for how to solve all different kinds of complications from head to toe. They will be much better prepared for the next time they run into trouble during an IR procedure. And we all know – doing complex IR procedures means that from time to time mild or even severe complications will happen.

CIRSE: What sets this meeting apart?

Hausegger: This meeting uniquely addresses complications and adverse events in IR openly. Legal constraints make such discussions hard to organize elsewhere.

Wolf: ICCIR is really unique; dedicated meetings just on complications in IR do not exist worldwide. As ICCIR is the only one on IR complications, it includes a highly experienced global faculty, and attendees get the chance to meet and learn from them in an exceptionally nice surrounding.

Pörtschach is in the southern region of Austria’s province of Carinthia and lies at the northern shore of Lake Wörthersee. This picturesque town nestled in the mountains will provide the ideal backdrop for contemplation and comradery after a long congress day.

In order to facilitate productive discussions, participation in ICCIR is strictly limited, so don’t wait – register today for this valuable meeting!