This year the 7th European Colorectal Congress will take place in St. Gallen, Switzerland. The congress was founded by Prof. Dr. Jochen Lange, Head of the Surgical Department of Kantonalspital St. Gallen, the largest department for visceral surgery in Switzerland. At that time, it became apparent that at most international congresses it was common to discuss a great number of different topics, however, no condition or illness was presented and discussed in more detail. As the clinic for visceral surgery focused on colorectal surgery, Prof. Dr. Jochen Lange organised the EC congress for the first time in 2007.