From Left: Prof Nuala Lucas, Dr. Nandor Kosik, Dr. Edgar Brincat, Dr. Petramay Attard Cortis, Dr. Kelvin Cortis, Hon Minister Dr. Jo Etienne Abela, Dr. Anne Marie Camilleri Podesta, Mr. Clarence Pace (CGMO), Prof Giacomo Bellani, Prof Steffen Rex, Dr. Stephanie Mifsud, Dr. Daniel Farrugia, Prof Idit Matot.

The Association of Anaesthesiologists and Intensivists of Malta (AAIM) held its international conference, The High-Risk Patient: Anaesthesia, Intensive Care, and Pain Perspectives.

Held recently at the Malta Marriott Resort & Spa, St. Julian’s, Malta, this prestigious event included 200 delegates ranging from local and international anaesthesiologists, trainees, anaesthetic and intensive care nurses and professionals interested in the subject matter, who came together for two days of insightful discussions and knowledge sharing.

The conference programme included a rich line-up of sessions tailored to address the unique challenges of managing high-risk patient populations. Keynote lectures, plenary sessions and parallel sessions provided an in-depth look into the management of high-risk patients, covering topics such as Intensive Care, Upper Gastrointestinal and Liver surgery, Difficult Airway, Elderly Frail Patients, Cardiac Anaesthesia, Paediatrics, Pain Management, Morbid Obesity, Non-Operating Room Anaesthesia and Major Vascular Surgery.

Attendees also had the opportunity to attend seven pre-conference workshops which covered essential topics such as simulation, echocardiography, ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia, patient safety and non-technical skills, and difficult airway management.

Esteemed local and international speakers led the discussions, bringing their expertise to an engaged audience.

International speakers included Prof. Idit Matot, President Elect of the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC); Prof. Steffen Rex, President Elect of the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiologists (EACTA); Prof. Federico Bilotta, Immediate Past Chair of the National Anaesthesiologists Societies Committee (NASC); Prof. Nuala Lucas, President of the Obstetric Anaesthetists’ Association, UK; Prof. Giacomo Bellani, Head of the Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Unit at Santa Chiara Hospital in Trento, Italy and Prof. Andrew Lockey, President Elect of European Resuscitation Council (ERC).

Local faculty included Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela, who presented a comprehensive overview of the local surgical Perspectives of Upper Gastrointestinal and Liver Surgery, elucidating the importance of setting benchmarks and key performance indicators as well as performing research for evidence-based improvements.

The AAIM President and chairperson of the ESAIC National Anaesthesiologists Societies Committee (NASC) Dr Anne Marie Camilleri Podesta placed particular emphasis on the preoperative liquid fasting evidence. The rest of the faculty was comprised of over 50 specialists ranging from anaesthesiology; intensive care; pain medicine; surgery; medicine; radiology; and nursing.

Themes which emerged from the conference included innovations in assisted ventilation for acute respiratory failure, the application of AI in Healthcare, where experts shared the latest advancements and potential applications in the realm of anaesthesia and critical care and the importance of national reporting systems, patient safety, and non-technical skills in the healthcare field. In addition, opportunities for research divulgation were offered as SuperSubmission and ePoster presentations.

The AAIM expressed its deep gratitude to the Health Minister as well as the Mater Dei Hospital medical administration for supporting the event. It also thanked the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) and the ESAIC for officially endorsing the conference as well as its Platinum Sponsors: Charles De Giorgio Ltd, the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA), and the Malta Resuscitation Council; its Gold Sponsors Drugsales Ltd, Medina Healthcare Ltd, St. James Hospital Malta, Associated Equipment Ltd, Cherubino Ltd, Menarini and Vathin Medical whose generous support has made the event possible.