Barcelona Spain May 29 June 1, 2002
More than hundred years after the regional anaesthesia was introduced into clinical practice, a World Congress on Regional Anaesthesia and Pain Therapy took place for the first time in May of this year. The chosen venue for this exceptional event was the magical city of Barcelona. All four societies of regional anesthesia, ASRA (American), ESRA (European), LASRA (Latin America) and AOSRA (Asian Oceanic) agreed upon the idea and combined their efforts to hold this milestone event.
Prior to this unique event, each society held its own annual congresses, in addition to which three joint meetings had been held between ASRA and ESRA (Vienna, Washington, Brussels), followed by two ISRA (International symposia of the four societies in Auckland, 1996 and Québec in 2000). By further globalizing we were convinced that we could organize a world congress with everyone's support.
A World Congress is the best place to set up standards, distribute knowledge and postgraduate education, develop scientific pathways, stimulate new research but, above all, to share and exchange knowledge of regional anaesthesia and pain therapy. Where better can this be done than at such a major event, where enthusiastic anaesthesiologists, passionate about regional anaesthesia and pain therapy, can acquire up-to-date information and develop new ideas in their field.
Regional Anaesthesia: the way ahead.
As a result of effective medicine, a post-World War II phenomenon, there has been a massive expansion of medical facilities in the last 30 years, with an outburst of health care providers and facilities. Regional anaesthesia has a major impact on pain relief and the perioperative care of the patient and there is clear evidence that it is superior to general anesthesia in many situations. A greater understanding of the underlying anatomy, physiology and pharmacology has resulted in better tools, better drugs and more appropriate techniques, resulting in superior pain relief and outcome for our patients.
Regional anesthesia congresses have now a well established format, encompassing guest lectures, panel discussions, `pro and con` sessions, workshops, free papers and poster presentations, all of which together offer a forum in which anesthesiologists can present and discuss their work and share their knowledge in the most appropriate manner. In addition at Barcelona, senior experienced clinicians and scientists helped foster a rich debate among the audience and the authors of original research providing ample opportunities for fruitful and timely discussions. This World Congress offered on top of that an excellent opportunity to take part in anatomy workshops, gaining invaluable practical experience of new anaesthetic techniques.
My special thanks go to Narinder Rawal, who did an almost impossible job in co-ordinating all the suggestions to come for the exiting scientific program at Barcelona, and who ensured that there was a clinically applicable programme covering a wide variety of new, interesting and controversial topics with a worldwide input. Slobodan Gligorijevic, Torben Mogensen and Ruud Stienstra reviewed over three hundred abstracts and Mathieu Gielen coordinated the anatomy workshops. My thanks also go to
the Local Organising Committee in Barcelona, chaired by Carmen Gomar and José de Andrés. We gratefully acknowledge all company participation and sponsoring. Words of thanks also go to our Congress Organiser, Options Eurocongress (represented by Hennou Oubouaziz) and to all the participants which we consider the core of this event, fundamental to the success of this event.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr Barrie Fischer, our ESRA Webmaster for all the efforts and time he is putting in the ESRA website, trying to give you the best service possible.
Internet is nowadays one of the main and quickest communication tools. It is the easiest way to regularly contact and inform you about ESRA, Future Meetings and Membership.
The Welcome Ceremony
The Welcome ceremony of the World Congress was hosted by the Palau de la Musica, a World Heritage Site opened especially for the Congress where the Carl Koller Award was presented to Prof. Dr. Michael Cousins from Australia. Delegates could then enjoy a cocktail followed by a modern classical Ballet de Fernando Belmonte.
ESRA Carl Koller Award
ESRA has instigated the Carl Koller Award since 1984, hundred years after Carl Koller instilled cocaine into the eye resulting in regional anaesthesia. Who could be a more appropriate person to receive this prestigious award than Michael Cousins, from Sydney Australia? Professor Cousins, who holds the Chair of Anaesthesia and Pain Management at Royal North Shore Hospital and the University of Sydney, has contributed largely to the development and distribution of the knowledge of regional anaesthesia and pain therapy. He pioneered a large multidisciplinary pain centre, served as Founding President of the Australian Pain Society and was President of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) from 1987 to 1990. He held numerous State, National and International appointments and is the author of over 200 original publications, reviews, book chapters and two major texts in the field of acute, chronic and cancer pain management. In 2000 he was invited by the Australian Neuroscience Society to deliver the eponynous lecture of the Australian Nobel laureate, Sir John Eccles. I is difficult to think of anyone who is more respected than Michael. This World Congress welcomed very much Prof. Dr. Michael J. Cousins as the true highlight with the topic of the Carl Koller lecture: "The Spinal Route of Analgesia: Current and Future Options".
ESRA Best Free Presentations 2002
ESRA is also proud to offer every year a total award amount of 4,000 euros for the Best Free paper and Best Poster competition. Congratulation to Dr M. Camorcia from UK who won the first prize for the Best Free Paper presentation in Barcelona and to Dr BD. Bergman from US , first prize for his Poster presentation. Second and third prize for Best Free Paper are Dr I. Herck from Belgium and Dr F. Rosemeier from UK. Second and third prize for Best Poster are Dr P. Juelsgaard from Denmark and Dr S. Dogra from USA.
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Barcelona: the city
Complimenting the wealth of educational experience offered at the World Congress, Barcelona was a superb congress centre, being the traditional gateway to Spain. Situated on the western coast of the Mediterranean, a short distance from France, it has developed as a great metropolis. Barcelona, with its cultural melting pot bubbling away ceaselessly day after day on the Ramblas, is proud of both its markets, three universities, stock exchange and position as a great Spanish publishing centre. Barcelona's avenues are wide; its buildings are not too tall and its climate, almost all the year around, is spring-like. Barcelona is the city of Antoni Gaudi with his best works: the Pedrera, the Sagrada Familia, the Park Guell, but it also hosts the best collection of Romanesque paintings in the world. It is the city of the Picasso Museum, Joan Miró, Antoni Tapies and the Tyssen Bornemisza foundations and now has a new museum of contemporary art which was built by Richard Meier.
To summarise, the World Congress in Barcelona, with more than 2000 participants from 83 different countries throughout the world and more than 300 Abstracts submitted definitively made history in the field of anaesthesia.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of ASRA (David Brown, Michael Mulroy), LASRA (Mario J. da Conceição, Sergio Cerda), AOSRA (Hung Kun Oh, Hiralal L. Kaul) and ESRA (Narinder Rawal and myself), I thank all the participants who came to this world congress, making it a scientific event of a very high standard and a tremendous success.
An invitation to Malta, ESRA Annual Congress, September 10-13, 2003.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you all next year to our XXII Annual ESRA Congress, during September 10-13, 2003, which will be held in the sunny Mediterranean island of Malta. The Congress will combine a dynamic and stimulating scientific programme with opportunities of relaxation.
Prof. dr. André van Zundert
President World Congress on Regional Anesthesia and Pain Therapy
Barcelona 2002
ESRA Website: www.esraeurope.org
