08:30-10:00 | Foundations, Airway & Gastric POCUS

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Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Understand the principles, scope and clinical applications of perioperative POCUS.
• Select appropriate probes and optimise image acquisition.
• Perform a focused ultrasound assessment of the airway.
• Identify key airway structures using ultrasound.
• Estimate clinically relevant airway measurements where appropriate.
• Use ultrasound to assist airway planning and procedural decision-making.
• Perform gastric ultrasound to assess gastric contents and qualitative or quantitative gastric volume.
• Recognise sonographic features suggestive of an empty, fluid-filled or solid-containing stomach.
• Integrate gastric POCUS findings into aspiration-risk assessment and perioperative planning.
• Recognise the limitations of airway and gastric POCUS.

Take-Home Skills
Using ultrasound as a bedside extension of the airway examination and incorporating gastric POCUS into aspiration-risk assessment.

10:10-11:40 | Focused Cardiac & Vascular Ultrasound

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Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Obtain basic cardiac ultrasound views systematically.
• Identify gross abnormalities in cardiac chamber size and function.
• Perform a focused assessment of left and right ventricular function.
• Recognise pericardial effusion.
• Assess gross volume status and cardiac filling.
• Identify findings suggestive of significant valvular or structural pathology.
• Understand basic Doppler principles in selected perioperative applications.
• Recognise clinically useful flow patterns.
• Use focused vascular ultrasound to support perioperative assessment and decision-making.
• Integrate focused cardiac and vascular findings into perioperative decision-making.

Take-Home Skill
Answering the bedside questions: How is the heart functioning? What does the circulation need?

13:30-15:00 | Lung Ultrasound & E-FAST

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Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Perform a systematic lung ultrasound examination.
• Identify pleural sliding and common normal artefacts.
• Recognise B-lines and understand their clinical significance.
• Identify consolidation, pleural effusion and pneumothorax.
• Differentiate common causes of perioperative hypoxaemia using lung ultrasound.
• Perform a focused E-FAST examination.
• Identify free fluid in the abdomen and pelvis.
• Assess the thoracic component of E-FAST for pneumothorax and pleural fluid.
• Recognise the role and limitations of E-FAST.
• Integrate lung and E-FAST findings with clinical examination and other POCUS modalities.

Take-Home Skill
Using ultrasound for rapid bedside assessment of respiratory problems and thoracic or abdominal pathology.

08:30-10:00 | Paediatric Regional Anaesthesia

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Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Describe important anatomical differences between children and adults.
• Understand age-related changes in peripheral nerves, spine and neuraxial anatomy.
• Select regional techniques according to age, procedure and developmental stage.
• Apply principles of paediatric local anaesthetic dosing and safety.
• Understand ultrasound-guided scanning in small patients.
• Adapt equipment, positioning and ergonomics to paediatric practice.
• Recognise situations where regional anaesthesia may reduce perioperative opioid and anaesthetic exposure.

Take-Home Skill
Adapting regional anaesthesia principles to the anatomy and physiology of the child.

10:10-11:40 | Paediatric Fascial Plane Blocks

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Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Understand the developing evidence base for paediatric fascial plane blocks.
• Identify relevant paediatric sonoanatomy.
• Understand how tissue depth and fascial planes change with age.
• Select appropriate fascial plane blocks for common paediatric procedures.
• Apply safe paediatric needle and injection principles.
• Consider local anaesthetic volume, concentration and toxicity.
• Recognise the limitations of extrapolating adult evidence to children.

Take-Home Skill
Paediatric anatomy and safety at the centre of fascial plane block planning.

13:30-15:00 | Neonatal & Infant Regional Anaesthesia

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Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Understand physiological differences affecting neuraxial and peripheral blocks.
• Identify appropriate indications for regional anaesthesia in neonates and infants.
• Develop safe dosing and monitoring strategies.
• Explore case-based approaches to regional anaesthesia in neonates.
• Recognise technical challenges related to very small anatomy.
• Integrate regional anaesthesia into opioid-sparing neonatal perioperative care.
• Understand principles of continuous catheter use, dosing and troubleshooting.

Take-Home Skill
Small patient, small margin for error: safe regional anaesthesia in neonates and infants.

15:00-16:30 | Paediatric POCUS

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Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Select appropriate ultrasound equipment and probes for children of different ages.
• Perform focused paediatric lung, cardiac and gastric ultrasound.
• Use ultrasound for vascular access and procedural guidance.
• Recognise common paediatric POCUS findings.
• Integrate POCUS with clinical assessment in perioperative decision-making.
• Understand age-related differences in normal ultrasound findings.
• Identify situations requiring escalation to formal imaging or specialist assessment.

Take-Home Skill
Building a practical paediatric perioperative POCUS examination.

08:30-10:00 | Obstetric Regional Anaesthesia

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Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Understand anatomical and physiological changes of pregnancy relevant to regional anaesthesia.
• Develop an evidence-based approach to obstetric neuraxial anaesthesia.
• Optimise epidural, spinal and combined spinal-epidural techniques.
• Anticipate and manage common neuraxial challenges in obstetrics.
• Develop strategies for failed or inadequate neuraxial blocks.
• Adapt regional anaesthesia planning to emergency obstetric scenarios.
• Integrate maternal and fetal considerations into anaesthetic decision-making.

10:10-11:40 | Ultrasound for Difficult Neuraxial Procedures

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Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Identify relevant spinal sonoanatomy using pre-procedure ultrasound.
• Determine midline and intervertebral levels.
• Estimate epidural depth.
• Optimise patient positioning using ultrasound information.
• Use ultrasound to plan neuraxial procedures in difficult anatomy.
• Recognise factors associated with difficult or failed neuraxial placement.
• Translate ultrasound findings into a practical procedural strategy.

Take-Home Skill
Scan before you puncture.

13:30-15:00 | Maternal Critical Care POCUS

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Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Perform focused cardiac and lung ultrasound in the critically ill parturient.
• Recognise major causes of maternal respiratory distress and shock.
• Identify pulmonary oedema, pleural effusion and pneumothorax.
• Assess gross cardiac function and right-heart abnormalities.
• Integrate POCUS into assessment of pre-eclampsia and other maternal emergencies.
• Use serial POCUS to assess response to therapy.
• Recognise when findings require urgent multidisciplinary intervention.

15:00-16:30 | Obstetric Case-Based Masterclass

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Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Apply regional anaesthesia principles to complex obstetric cases.
• Develop individualised anaesthetic plans for high-risk parturients.
• Manage difficult neuraxial anaesthesia scenarios.
• Integrate maternal comorbidities with obstetric and fetal considerations.
• Make time-critical decisions during obstetric emergencies.
• Anticipate complications and develop rescue strategies.
• Communicate effectively within the multidisciplinary obstetric team.

08:30-10:00 | Onco-Regional Anaesthesia

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Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Understand the role of regional anaesthesia across the cancer care pathway.
• Identify potential benefits and limitations of regional techniques in cancer surgery.
• Develop regional anaesthesia plans for common oncological procedures.
• Consider immunological, oncological and perioperative considerations.
• Manage regional anaesthesia in patients receiving chemotherapy, radiotherapy or targeted therapies.
• Integrate regional anaesthesia into enhanced recovery pathways.

10:10-11:40 | Cancer Pain & Ultrasound-Guided Interventions

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Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Assess cancer pain using a structured multimodal approach.
• Differentiate nociceptive, neuropathic and mixed cancer pain.
• Identify appropriate indications for regional and interventional pain techniques.
• Understand the role of ultrasound in selected peripheral nerve and fascial interventions.
• Develop strategies for patients with refractory cancer pain.
• Integrate interventional techniques with pharmacological management.
• Recognise complications and appropriate referral pathways.

13:30-15:00 | Opioid-Sparing & Opioid-Free Anaesthesia

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Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Define opioid-sparing and opioid-free anaesthesia approaches.
• Identify appropriate patients and procedures for opioid-minimising strategies.
• Construct multimodal analgesic pathways.
• Integrate regional anaesthesia with non-opioid systemic analgesics.
• Understand benefits and limitations of opioid-free approaches.
• Anticipate postoperative analgesic requirements.
• Develop individualised perioperative analgesia plans.

15:00-16:30 | Acute Pain Services & Regional Analgesia

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Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Understand the structure and function of an effective Acute Pain Service.
• Develop protocols for regional analgesia pathways.
• Select appropriate patients for continuous regional techniques.
• Monitor efficacy, adverse effects and complications.
• Establish escalation and rescue pathways for inadequate analgesia.
• Integrate nursing, pharmacy and surgical teams into pain pathways.
• Develop quality indicators for an Acute Pain Service.

08:30-10:00 | AI in Regional Anaesthesia & Ultrasound

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From Sonoanatomy to Intelligent Assistance

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Understand current and emerging applications of AI in regional anaesthesia.
• Explore AI-assisted ultrasound image interpretation and automated sonoanatomical recognition.
• Understand AI-assisted image optimisation and identification of relevant structures.
• Explore AI-assisted needle tracking and procedural guidance while recognising the continuing importance of clinician-controlled technique.
• Examine AI-assisted block planning and clinical decision support.
• Explore the role of AI in regional anaesthesia education and simulation.
• Identify limitations related to bias, validation, generalisability and safety.
• Distinguish clinically useful AI from technology hype.
• Consider how AI may influence the future regional anaesthesia workflow.

10:10-11:40 | Technology-Enabled Anaesthesia

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From Machine to Patient Safety

Learning Objectives

Participants will explore:

Modern Anaesthesia Workstations

• Architecture and essential functions of modern anaesthesia workstations.
• Optimisation of ventilation and gas-delivery systems.
• Advanced ventilatory modes and their clinical applications.
• Systematic troubleshooting of workstation alarms.
• Machine-checking and equipment safety.

Smart Monitoring

• Integrated monitoring and automated safety systems.
• Capnography and respiratory monitoring during regional anaesthesia with sedation.
• Interpretation of physiological trends rather than isolated numbers.

Nociception Monitoring

• Principles and applications of nociception monitoring.
• Technologies including NOL, SPI and related systems.
• Interpretation of nociception indices alongside clinical assessment.
• Limitations and potential for false reassurance.

Sedation & Safety

• Integrating monitoring technology into regional anaesthesia with sedation.
• Recognising technology-related cognitive errors.
• Understanding the risks of over-reliance on technology.
• Identifying technology that genuinely improves patient safety.

13:30-15:00 | Smart Infusion Technologies & TCI

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Precision Drug Delivery for the Regional Anaesthesia Patient

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Understand the principles of target-controlled infusion.
• Differentiate pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic concepts relevant to TCI.
• Understand commonly used pharmacokinetic models.
• Understand effect-site targeting.
• Apply TCI and smart infusion technology to sedation during regional anaesthesia.
• Understand principles of safe smart infusion pump use.
• Recognise risks related to programming errors, concentration selection and line management.
• Understand dose-error reduction and intelligent infusion systems.
• Integrate smart infusion technology with individualised sedation and perioperative drug delivery.
• Recognise the limitations of automated or target-based delivery and the continuing importance of clinical assessment and titration.

The Clinical Pathway
TARGET → EFFECT SITE → PUMP → PATIENT RESPONSE → CLINICAL ADJUSTMENT

15:00-16:30 | The Future of Anaesthesia

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Digital. Connected. Intelligent. Sustainable.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Explore emerging technologies shaping the future of anaesthesia and regional anaesthesia.
• Understand connected ultrasound, monitoring and digital data ecosystems.
• Examine automation and clinical decision-support systems.
• Explore digital documentation and integration of perioperative data.
• Understand interoperability between machines, monitors, ultrasound and electronic records.
• Explore remote assistance, augmented reality, robotics and simulation.
• Examine the concept of the intelligent operating room.
• Understand cybersecurity, privacy and human-factor challenges.
• Understand principles of sustainable anaesthesia.
• Examine the environmental impact of equipment, consumables, anaesthetic gases, drug delivery and workflow.
• Explore how regional anaesthesia may contribute to more sustainable perioperative pathways.
• Distinguish evidence-based innovation from technology or sustainability hype.
• Envision a future anaesthesia pathway that is clinically effective, digitally intelligent and environmentally responsible.

08:30-10:00 | Regional Anaesthesia in Difficult Anatomy

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Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Identify anatomical factors that make regional anaesthesia technically challenging.
• Develop strategies for obese, elderly and anatomically altered patients.
• Use ultrasound when conventional landmarks are unreliable.
• Modify probe selection, patient positioning and needle approach.
• Plan alternative approaches when the primary technique is difficult.
• Recognise when to abandon a technique and choose an alternative.
• Develop a patient-specific regional anaesthesia strategy.

10:10-11:40 | Continuous Peripheral Nerve Catheters

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Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Understand indications and contraindications for continuous peripheral nerve blocks.
• Select appropriate catheter techniques for different surgical procedures.
• Understand ultrasound-guided catheter placement strategies.
• Optimise catheter location and local anaesthetic delivery.
• Understand infusion strategies and ambulatory catheter management.
• Recognise and manage catheter-related complications.
• Develop principles for monitoring and follow-up.

13:30-15:00 | Advanced Needle Guidance & Safety

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Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Optimise needle visualisation using ultrasound.
• Understand needle-beam alignment and dynamic needle-tip tracking.
• Compare in-plane and out-of-plane approaches.
• Develop strategies for difficult needle trajectories.
• Recognise early signs of intravascular or intraneural injection.
• Apply injection-pressure and safety principles.
• Use a systematic approach to minimising block-related complications.

Take-Home Skill
See the needle tip. Control the needle. Control the injection.

15:00-16:30 | Block Failure & Troubleshooting

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Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Identify common causes of incomplete or failed regional blocks.
• Differentiate technical failure from anatomical variation and inadequate analgesic coverage.
• Use ultrasound to reassess block anatomy and local anaesthetic spread.
• Develop systematic rescue strategies.
• Decide when to repeat, supplement or abandon a block.
• Recognise potentially serious complications masquerading as block failure.
• Develop a structured approach to learning from failed blocks.

Take-Home Skill
Turning “Why did my block fail?” into a systematic diagnostic process.