Anaesthesiologists' national congress in Durban

© Chanawit Sitthisombat – 123RF.com

The Society's members will have an opportunity to network with international and local colleagues and catch up on the latest developments in the industry. The congress acts as an educational forum aimed at promoting scientific and academic awareness in the field of anaesthesiology. Not only does it provide a platform for young researchers to present their findings, but also exposes members to leading-edge clinical thinking, and fosters ongoing skills development within the profession, with emphasis on patient safety.

The academic programme, which incorporates refresher courses, research and workshops, is aimed at anaesthetists, general practitioners in anaesthetics and anaesthetic nurses or nurses working in the perioperative environment.

African delegates will represent Uganda, Tanzania, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Kenya, Botswana and South Africa, while international attendees are coming from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, the UK, Qatar, Italy and the US.

A local contingent of more than 60 speakers will join a lineup of five international guest speakers representing Australia, Germany and the UK, who are:

• Prof. Paul Myles, professor in the Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
  
• Prof. Rupert Pearse, professor of Intensive Care Medicine, Queen Mary University, London, UK
  
• Dr William Harrop-Griffiths, Department of Anaesthetics, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK
  
• Dr Tim Cook, Consultant in Anaesthesia and intensive Care Medicine Royal United Hospital, Bath, UK
  
• Dr Isabeau Walker, consultant paediatric anaesthesiologist, Great Ormonde Street Hospital, London, UK

Experts from the legal profession and financial sector will also address congress delegates.

In addition, the following international faculty members will attend, Andreas Hoeft, Carl Hillerman, Manfred Seeberger, Peter Rosseel, Andrew Murray, and Christian Byhahn.

Workshop choices

There will be an average of three morning sessions and two afternoon sessions per day, along with three parallel sessions as part of the main congress, so delegates can choose their spheres of interest.

Workshop themes will include:

• A meta-analysis in a day
  
• Basic ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia
  
• Focus-assessed transthoracic echocardiography (FATE) - a basic course
  
• Thoracic wall blocks
  
• Assessment and management of the difficult airway
  
• Managing emergencies in paediatric anaesthesia (MEPA)

For more information, go to www.sasaweb.com/Congress2015 or contact organiser Alison Shaw on +27 (0)31 572 3260, +27 (0)82 5538201 or email az.oc.hlayor@nosila.