ISICARE 2026

International Symposium on Intensive Cardiovascular Care

September 6-8, 2026

Erasme Hospital, Brussels

Interactive program

   
Speaker

Sunday 6 September 2026

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            Special session Madeleine De Genst Afternoon (CET)

            OPENING

  • -

    Welcome

                Filippo Annoni (Brussels, Belgium)

                Vincent Labbé (Brussels, Belgium)

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            Cardiac arrest Madeleine De Genst Afternoon (CET)

            ECPR

            Moderator(s):  Filippo Annoni (Brussels, Belgium)
Guido Tavazzi (Pavia, Italy)
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    Who deserves a chance?

                Fabio S Taccone (Brussels, Belgium)

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    Optimizing hemodynamic management

                Bruno Levy (Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France)

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    Building high-performance ECPR teams

                Harlinde Peperstraete (Gent, Belgium)

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    Discussion

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            Cardiac arrest Madeleine De Genst Afternoon (CET)

            CONTROVERSIES AFTER ROSC - 1

            Moderator(s):  Filippo Annoni (Brussels, Belgium)
Giuseppe Ristagno (Milan, Italy)
  • -

    Higher blood pressure: do the kidneys benefit?

                Markus Skrifvars (Helsinki, Finland)

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    Ventilation: the lung-brain balance

                Theresa M Olasveengen (Oslo, Norway)

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    What is the lowest acceptable mean arterial pressure?

                Markus Skrifvars (Helsinki, Finland)

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    Discussion

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    Break

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            Pharmacology Madeleine De Genst Afternoon (CET)

            CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

            Moderator(s):  Vincent Labbé (Brussels, Belgium)
Susanna Price (London, United Kingdom)
  • -

    Vasoactive agents during MCS

                Alastair Proudfoot (London, United Kingdom)

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    Beta-blockers in the critically ill

                Fabio Guarracino (Pisa, Italy)

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    How to manage long-term anticoagulation

                François Bagate (Créteil, France)

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    Discussion

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            Plenary lecture Madeleine De Genst Afternoon (CET)

            CONTEMPORARY MANAGEMENT OF AMI - CARDIOGENIC SHOCK

  • -

    Contemporary management of AMI - Cardiogenic shock

                Jacob Moller (Odense, Denmark)

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            Physiology Louise Popelin Afternoon (CET)

            THE HEART AND MECHANICAL VENTILATION

            Moderator(s):  Vincent Labbé (Brussels, Belgium)
Alastair Proudfoot (London, United Kingdom)
  • -

    The effects of PEEP on coronary blood flow

                Michel Slama (Amiens, France)

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    Right ventricular and pulmonary vasculature interaction

                Fabio Guarracino (Pisa, Italy)

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    Understanding the hemodynamic effects of PEEP

                Xavier Monnet (Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France)

  • -

    Discussion

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            Perioperative Louise Popelin Afternoon (CET)

            CARDIAC SURGERY - 1

            Moderator(s):  Fabio Guarracino (Pisa, Italy)
Antonio Messina (Rozzano, Italy)
  • -

    Toward bedside hemostasis

                Harlinde Peperstraete (Gent, Belgium)

  • -

    Perioperative atrial fibrillation: when to anticoagulate?

                Vincent Labbé (Brussels, Belgium)

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    Amino acids for everyone?

                Giovanni Landoni (Milan, Italy)

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    Discussion

  • -

    Break

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            Cardiac arrest Louise Popelin Afternoon (CET)

            CONTROVERSIES AFTER ROSC - 2

            Moderator(s):  Filippo Annoni (Brussels, Belgium)
Giuseppe Ristagno (Milan, Italy)
  • -

    Wake up! Rethinking sedation after cardiac arrest

                Markus Skrifvars (Helsinki, Finland)

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    Neuroprognostication: predicting the unpredictable

                Fabio S Taccone (Brussels, Belgium)

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    Alternative energetic substrates for brain protection

                Filippo Annoni (Brussels, Belgium)

  • -

    Discussion

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            Mechanical circulatory support Elisabeth Wollast Afternoon (CET)

            TREATMENT OPTIMIZATION

            Moderator(s):  Daniel De Backer (Braine l´Alleud, Belgium)
Jacob Moller (Odense, Denmark)
  • -

    Mind the brain!

                Dieter Dauwe (Leuven, Belgium)

  • -

    pVAD: fine-tuning and troubleshooting

                Tim Balthazar (Brussels, Belgium)

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    How to avoid MCS: tips & tricks

                Marin Pavlov (Zagreb, Croatia)

  • -

    Discussion

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            Echocardiography Elisabeth Wollast Afternoon (CET)

            ASSESSMENT OF FUNCTION

            Moderator(s):  François Bagate (Créteil, France)
Daniel De Backer (Braine l´Alleud, Belgium)
  • -

    LV systolic function

                Michel Slama (Amiens, France)

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    LV diastolic function

                Ghislaine Douflé (Toronto, Canada)

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    RV function and congestion

                Michel Slama (Amiens, France)

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    Discussion

  • -

    Break

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            Mechanical circulatory support Elisabeth Wollast Afternoon (CET)

            WEANING

            Moderator(s):  Tim Balthazar (Brussels, Belgium)
Jacob Moller (Odense, Denmark)
  • -

    Ready to come off?

                Dieter Dauwe (Leuven, Belgium)

  • -

    The novel pump-controlled retrograde trial off strategy

                Christophe Vandenbriele (London, United Kingdom)

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    Survivorship after ECMO

                Harlinde Peperstraete (Gent, Belgium)

  • -

    Discussion

Monday 7 September 2026

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            Mechanical circulatory support Madeleine De Genst Morning (CET)

            CHOOSING THE RIGHT SUPPORT

            Moderator(s):  Dieter Dauwe (Leuven, Belgium)
Fabio S Taccone (Brussels, Belgium)
  • -

    Which choices do I have?

                Jacob Moller (Odense, Denmark)

  • -

    Is ECMO still the first-line?

                Matthieu Schmidt (Paris, France)

  • -

    Phenotype-based approach

                Guido Tavazzi (Pavia, Italy)

  • -

    Discussion

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            Pharmacology Madeleine De Genst Morning (CET)

            UPDATE ON VASOPRESSORS

            Moderator(s):  Alessandro Belletti (Milan, Italy)
Daniel De Backer (Braine l´Alleud, Belgium)
  • -

    Challenging the reflex to use vasopressors

                Tim Balthazar (Brussels, Belgium)

  • -

    Norepinephrine in septic shock: we should start it early!

                Xavier Monnet (Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France)

  • -

    Early multimodal vasopressor strategy

                Ziga Kalamar (Kran, Slovenia)

  • -

    Discussion

  • -

    Break

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            Mechanical circulatory support Madeleine De Genst Morning (CET)

            DEALING WITH COMPLICATIONS OF ECMO

            Moderator(s):  Jacob Moller (Odense, Denmark)
Harlinde Peperstraete (Gent, Belgium)
  • -

    Bleeding management

                Julie Helms (Strasbourg, France)

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    Transfusion strategies

                Alexander Vlaar (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

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    Is LV venting necessary in all patients?

                Matthieu Schmidt (Paris, France)

  • -

    Discussion

  • -

    Lunch break

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            Hemodynamics Madeleine De Genst Afternoon (CET)

            CARDIOGENIC SHOCK

            Moderator(s):  Susanna Price (London, United Kingdom)
Alastair Proudfoot (London, United Kingdom)
  • -

    Phenotype-based approach

                Jacob Moller (Odense, Denmark)

  • -

    Post-infarction mechanical complications

                François Bagate (Créteil, France)

  • -

    From ICU to rehabilitation

                Bruno Levy (Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France)

  • -

    Discussion

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            Cardiac arrest Madeleine De Genst Afternoon (CET)

            KEY TARGETS IN RESUSCITATION

            Moderator(s):  Filippo Annoni (Brussels, Belgium)
Markus Skrifvars (Helsinki, Finland)
  • -

    Tailored defibrillation vectors

                Giuseppe Ristagno (Milan, Italy)

  • -

    Ventilation during CPR: how much, how fast, and at what cost?

                Theresa M Olasveengen (Oslo, Norway)

  • -

    Advanced life support in 2026

                Giuseppe Ristagno (Milan, Italy)

  • -

    Discussion

  • -

    Break

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            Plenary lecture Madeleine De Genst Afternoon (CET)

            THE ENIGMA OF CARDIAC DYSFUNCTION IN SEPSIS

  • -

    The enigma of cardiac dysfunction in sepsis

                Michelle Chew (Linköping, Sweden)

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            Hemodynamics Louise Popelin Morning (CET)

            FLUID MANAGEMENT

            Moderator(s):  Bruno Levy (Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France)
Alastair Proudfoot (London, United Kingdom)
  • -

    Fluid responsiveness in 2026

                Antonio Messina (Rozzano, Italy)

  • -

    How do I perform a fluid challenge?

                Xavier Monnet (Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France)

  • -

    Assessment of venous congestion

                Xavier Monnet (Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France)

  • -

    Discussion

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            Hemodynamics Louise Popelin Morning (CET)

            CIRCULATORY SHOCK

            Moderator(s):  François Bagate (Créteil, France)
Olfa Hamzaoui (Reims, France)
  • -

    Optimal blood pressure targets in cardiogenic shock

                Alexander Vlaar (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

  • -

    Septic shock: getting the timing right

                Antonio Messina (Rozzano, Italy)

  • -

    Right ventricular failure: a stepwise approach

                Carlos L Alviar (New York, United States)

  • -

    Discussion

  • -

    Break

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            Physiology Louise Popelin Morning (CET)

            CHALLENGING SITUATIONS

            Moderator(s):  Xavier Monnet (Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France)
Fabio S Taccone (Brussels, Belgium)
  • -

    Using filling pressures as preload measures

                Tim Balthazar (Brussels, Belgium)

  • -

    Beyond limits: lessons from giraffes and whales

                Antonio Messina (Rozzano, Italy)

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    The East-West syndrome: new pitfalls in awake VA ECMO

                Christophe Vandenbriele (London, United Kingdom)

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    Discussion

  • -

    Lunch break

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            Pharmacology Louise Popelin Afternoon (CET)

            HEMOSTASIS

            Moderator(s):  Harlinde Peperstraete (Gent, Belgium)
Alexander Vlaar (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
  • -

    Restoring fibrinolysis in sepsis-induced DIC: a new target for precision therapy?

                Julie Helms (Strasbourg, France)

  • -

    High-dose prophylactic anticoagulation: is it beneficial in ICU patients?

                Vincent Labbé (Brussels, Belgium)

  • -

    Anticoagulation pearls and pitfalls during MCS

                Christophe Vandenbriele (London, United Kingdom)

  • -

    Discussion

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            Echocardiography Louise Popelin Afternoon (CET)

            CLINICAL APPLICATIONS OF ULTRASOUND

            Moderator(s):  Ghislaine Douflé (Toronto, Canada)
Michel Slama (Amiens, France)
  • -

    Echocardiography in shock: how do I use it at the bedside?

                Olfa Hamzaoui (Reims, France)

  • -

    Imaging for monitoring of MCS

                Guido Tavazzi (Pavia, Italy)

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    Non-invasive assessment of ventriculo-arterial coupling in circulatory failure

                François Bagate (Créteil, France)

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    Discussion

  • -

    Break

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            Cardiopulmonary Elisabeth Wollast Morning (CET)

            VALVULAR DISEASE

            Moderator(s):  Ghislaine Douflé (Toronto, Canada)
Marin Pavlov (Zagreb, Croatia)
  • -

    Valvular shock: from physiology to clinical management

                Carlos L Alviar (New York, United States)

  • -

    Acute mitral regurgitation: how to stabilize the patient

                Tim Balthazar (Brussels, Belgium)

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    Transcatheter aortic valve implantation: what intensivists should know

                Mike El-Mourad (Brussels, Belgium)

  • -

    Discussion

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            Cardiopulmonary Elisabeth Wollast Morning (CET)

            PULMONARY EMBOLISM

            Moderator(s):  Guido Tavazzi (Pavia, Italy)
Christophe Vandenbriele (London, United Kingdom)
  • -

    To admit to the ICU or not?

                Julie Helms (Strasbourg, France)

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    Evolving therapies and emerging evidence

                Susanna Price (London, United Kingdom)

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    It´s not just about the clot

                Marin Pavlov (Zagreb, Croatia)

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    Discussion

  • -

    Break

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            Echocardiography Elisabeth Wollast Morning (CET)

            ULTRASOUND IN PATIENTS WITH MCS

            Moderator(s):  Michelle Chew (Linköping, Sweden)
Michel Slama (Amiens, France)
  • -

    pVAD

                Ghislaine Douflé (Toronto, Canada)

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    ECMO

                Filippo Annoni (Brussels, Belgium)

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    LVAD

                Ghislaine Douflé (Toronto, Canada)

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    Discussion

  • -

    Lunch break

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            Mechanical circulatory support Elisabeth Wollast Afternoon (CET)

            PREVENTION OF COMPLICATIONS

            Moderator(s):  Carlos L Alviar (New York, United States)
Fabio S Taccone (Brussels, Belgium)
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    Are we making progress in ECMO safety?

                Matthieu Schmidt (Paris, France)

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    When should we unload the left ventricle during VA ECMO?

                Dieter Dauwe (Leuven, Belgium)

  • -

    How to minimize MCS-related adverse events

                Jacob Moller (Odense, Denmark)

  • -

    Discussion

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            Cardiopulmonary Elisabeth Wollast Afternoon (CET)

            ACUTE CORONARY DISEASE

            Moderator(s):  Julie Helms (Strasbourg, France)
Alexander Vlaar (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
  • -

    When to consider mechanical circulatory support

                Susanna Price (London, United Kingdom)

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    In the Cath Lab: what should the intensivist know?

                Marin Pavlov (Zagreb, Croatia)

  • -

    Antiplatelet drug management

                Mike El-Mourad (Brussels, Belgium)

  • -

    Discussion

  • -

    Break

Tuesday 8 September 2026

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            Echocardiography Madeleine De Genst Morning (CET)

            LIVE ECHO SESSION

            Moderator(s):  Michelle Chew (Linköping, Sweden)
Michel Slama (Amiens, France)
  • -

    Live case transmissions from Sydney

                Sam Orde (Sydney, Australia)

  • -

    Discussion

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            Cardiopulmonary Madeleine De Genst Morning (CET)

            ACUTE HEART FAILURE

            Moderator(s):  Tim Balthazar (Brussels, Belgium)
Marin Pavlov (Zagreb, Croatia)
  • -

    The fantastic 4!

                Céline Dewachter (Anderlecht, Belgium)

  • -

    A new way to look at post-capillary pulmonary hypertension

                Jean-Luc Vachiery (Brussels, Belgium)

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    What´s new in the guidelines

                Céline Dewachter (Anderlecht, Belgium)

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    Discussion

  • -

    Break

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            Mechanical circulatory support Madeleine De Genst Morning (CET)

            SPECIFIC CLINICAL INDICATIONS

            Moderator(s):  Vincent Labbé (Brussels, Belgium)
Christophe Vandenbriele (London, United Kingdom)
  • -

    VA ECMO in septic shock?

                Daniel De Backer (Braine l´Alleud, Belgium)

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    ECMO for pulmonary embolism

                Matthieu Schmidt (Paris, France)

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    Waking on full support: percutaneous biventricular assist devices

                Tim Balthazar (Brussels, Belgium)

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    Discussion

  • -

    Lunch break

14:00-14:45 (CET)
            Plenary lecture Madeleine De Genst Afternoon (CET)

            FRUGAL INNOVATION IN CARDIAC CRITICAL CARE

  • 14:00-14:45 (CET)

    Frugal innovation in cardiac critical care

                Armand Mekontso Dessap (Créteil, France)

14:45-16:00 (CET)
            Cardiopulmonary Madeleine De Genst Afternoon (CET)

            SPECIFIC CARDIAC CONDITIONS

            Moderator(s):  Julie Helms (Strasbourg, France)
Matthieu Schmidt (Paris, France)
  • 14:45-15:05 (CET)

    Stress-related cardiomyopathy: pathophysiology and management

                Guido Tavazzi (Pavia, Italy)

  • 15:05-15:25 (CET)

    Adults with congenital heart disease in the ICU?

                Susanna Price (London, United Kingdom)

  • 15:25-15:45 (CET)

    Sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction: is it time for a consensus?

                Michelle Chew (Linköping, Sweden)

  • 15:45-16:00 (CET)

    Discussion

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            Hemodynamics Louise Popelin Morning (CET)

            ADVANCED HEMODYNAMIC MONITORING

            Moderator(s):  Dieter Dauwe (Leuven, Belgium)
Armand Mekontso Dessap (Créteil, France)
  • -

    Which device for which patient

                Olfa Hamzaoui (Reims, France)

  • -

    Pulmonary artery catheter: back to the future!

                Xavier Monnet (Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France)

  • -

    Should we monitor renin in 2026?

                Alessandro Belletti (Milan, Italy)

  • -

    Discussion

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            Echocardiography Louise Popelin Morning (CET)

            ULTRASOUND FOR CARDIAC CRISES

            Moderator(s):  Michelle Chew (Linköping, Sweden)
Olfa Hamzaoui (Reims, France)
  • -

    Shock during myocardial infarction

                Vincent Labbé (Brussels, Belgium)

  • -

    Aortic pathologies

                Ghislaine Douflé (Toronto, Canada)

  • -

    Acute endocarditis

                François Bagate (Créteil, France)

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    Discussion

  • -

    Break

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            Hemodynamics Louise Popelin Morning (CET)

            HEMODYNAMIC MONITORING IN COMPLEX CLINICAL SITUATIONS

            Moderator(s):  Bruno Levy (Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France)
Armand Mekontso Dessap (Créteil, France)
  • -

    Optimizing heart-lung interaction in ARDS

                Antonio Messina (Rozzano, Italy)

  • -

    In VA ECMO: focus on perfusion

                Dieter Dauwe (Leuven, Belgium)

  • -

    Should we use pulmonary artery catheters after cardiac arrest?

                Markus Skrifvars (Helsinki, Finland)

  • -

    Discussion

  • -

    Lunch break

14:45-16:00 (CET)
            Cardiac arrest Louise Popelin Afternoon (CET)

            CONTROVERSIES AFTER ROSC - 3

            Moderator(s):  Harlinde Peperstraete (Gent, Belgium)
Fabio S Taccone (Brussels, Belgium)
  • 14:45-15:05 (CET)

    Optimal post-resuscitation temperature

                Giuseppe Ristagno (Milan, Italy)

  • 15:05-15:25 (CET)

    Sedation: how deep is too deep?

                Theresa M Olasveengen (Oslo, Norway)

  • 15:25-15:45 (CET)

    Is post cardiac arrest heart failure really a problem?

                Markus Skrifvars (Helsinki, Finland)

  • 15:45-16:00 (CET)

    Discussion

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            Perioperative Elisabeth Wollast Morning (CET)

            CARDIAC SURGERY - 2

            Moderator(s):  Carlos L Alviar (New York, United States)
Vincent Labbé (Brussels, Belgium)
  • -

    Calcium supplementation in cardiac surgery

                Alessandro Belletti (Milan, Italy)

  • -

    LVAD: urgent and semi-urgent indications

                Frederic Vanden Eynden (Brussels, Belgium)

  • -

    Strategies to prevent cardiac-surgery associated AKI

                Giovanni Landoni (Milan, Italy)

  • -

    Discussion

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            Pharmacology Elisabeth Wollast Morning (CET)

            CARDIOGENIC SHOCK

            Moderator(s):  Giovanni Landoni (Milan, Italy)
Alastair Proudfoot (London, United Kingdom)
  • -

    Levosimendan: does it still have a role?

                Bruno Levy (Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France)

  • -

    Targeting inflammation: are we ready?

                Armand Mekontso Dessap (Créteil, France)

  • -

    Inotropic agents: what’s new

                Daniel De Backer (Braine l´Alleud, Belgium)

  • -

    Discussion

  • -

    Break

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            Pharmacology Elisabeth Wollast Morning (CET)

            VASOACTIVE AGENTS

            Moderator(s):  Julie Helms (Strasbourg, France)
Xavier Monnet (Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France)
  • -

    Multimodal strategy for vasopressor use during septic shock

                Olfa Hamzaoui (Reims, France)

  • -

    Precapillary pulmonary hypertension: new concepts and therapies

                Jean-Luc Vachiery (Brussels, Belgium)

  • -

    Vasoactive agents in cardiogenic shock

                Alastair Proudfoot (London, United Kingdom)

  • -

    Discussion

  • -

    Lunch break

14:45-16:00 (CET)
            Perioperative Elisabeth Wollast Afternoon (CET)

            PERIOPERATIVE MEDICINE

            Moderator(s):  Fabio Guarracino (Pisa, Italy)
Antonio Messina (Rozzano, Italy)
  • 14:45-15:05 (CET)

    Intraoperative hypotension and cardiac output monitoring: are they still relevant?

                Michelle Chew (Linköping, Sweden)

  • 15:05-15:25 (CET)

    Acute normovolemic hemodilution in cardiac surgery

                Giovanni Landoni (Milan, Italy)

  • 15:25-15:45 (CET)

    Permissive vs targeted intraoperative pressure targets

                Giovanni Landoni (Milan, Italy)

  • 15:45-16:00 (CET)

    Discussion

Speakers list

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