96. Berner Anästhesie-Symposium
Back to the future – not fighting the old, but building on the new
Donnerstag, 30. November 2023, 17.00 - 20.00 Uhr
Dear colleagues,
Together with our outstanding speakers, we invite you on a journey to explore and critically assess the value of long-standing, well-established concepts of perioperative care in the light of scientific advances. In four sessions, we will focus on new developments, recent discoveries and the challenges ahead in our fast-paced and digitised world.
First, Professor Emanuela Keller, MD, will discuss the latest achievements and possible applications of modern technologies that implement artificial intelligence in medical decision-making. There is no doubt that the amount of data generated in the perioperative patient pathway has increased astronomically over the last decades, enabling big data analytics and semi-automated data processing. Ultimately, we hope that the predictive power resulting from these technological advances will not only support personalised care but also empower clinicians to intervene pre-emptively in the event of imminent patient deterioration.
Together with Professor Beverley Orser, MD, we will then challenge our fundamental concepts of anaesthesia. An internationally renowned scientist, she has revolutionised the neurophysiologic basics of pain, memory and consciousness. The “Orser lab” not only contributes to a deeper understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of anaesthetics, but also aims to extend the application of pharmaceuticals used in anaesthetic practice to neurological diseases. Professor Orser will share the latest findings directly from her laboratory with us.
After a short break, we will welcome Professor Anahi Perlas, MD, who, among many other clinical and scientific achievements, has laid the foundation for the establishment of gastric ultrasound as a new POCUS modality. Pulmonary aspiration remains a threat with a high morbidity and mortality to the anaesthetised patient. Even with adequate fasting times, complete gastric emptying cannot be guaranteed while the negative effects of prolonged fasting are increasingly recognised. The expert from Toronto will present the basics of ultrasound-guided examination of gastric content as a personalised approach to individual risk assessment prior to induction, which is likely to find its way into international guidelines and clinical practice.
Continuing from preoperative risk assessment to induction and maintenance of anaesthesia, propofol, which was first tested in 1977, was the last anaesthetic to revolutionise perioperative care. It quickly became the hallmark of anaesthesia and an indispensable agent. Now, a new drug called “Remimazolam” promises to turn the anaesthetic world upside down again – combining several favourable properties in a single molecule: benzodiazepine pharmacology with rapid degradation to an inactive metabolite, cardiopulmonary stability of the patient and the potential for effective reversal. While Remimazolam is already established as a drug for procedural sedation and general anaesthesia in many countries, the journey has only yet begun in Switzerland. In this regard, Professor Jörg Fechner, MD, who has extensively studied Remimazolam, will introduce us to the currently most promising new anaesthetic agent.
We look forward to welcoming you to the 96th Berner Anästhesie-Symposium entitled «Back to the future – not fighting the old, but building on the new» and would like to thank all speakers and participants for their highly appreciated contributions to an enriching meeting.
Dr. med. Mark G. Filipovic und Dr. med. Corina M. Bello
The symposium is recognized by the SSAPM with 3 credits.