Pre-Congress Courses
We are happy to offer a wide range of pre-congress courses. Make sure to register early to secure your spot in one of our pre-congress courses.
EMPOWER-ALS EUSEM’s PrOfessional Workshop in Paediatric Emergency Response-Advanced Life Support
EMPOWER-ALS EUSEM’s PrOfessional Workshop in Paediatric Emergency Response-Advanced Life Support
About the course
This EMPOWER Advanced Life Support (ALS) course is intended to reinforce data-driven knowledge in pediatric resuscitation and ALS. The course is designed to substantially enhance participants' knowledge in the most recent scientific literature and advancements in this field.
This one-day workshop includes two parts:
- Part 1: Four hours of core evidence-based presentations in the field of pediatric resuscitation and ALS.
- Part 2: A four-hour workshop in pediatric Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS). The Proficiency in rapid POCUS examination is now an essential skill in paediatric ALS. Participants in the POCUS course will gain hands-on experience in sonographic diagnosis of critical emergency conditions.
Course participants
The course is designed for pediatric emergency physicians, and emergency department physicians involved in academia and teaching. The course can accommodate up to 40 participants.
Course objective
The objective is to empower participants with cutting-edge data in paediatric resuscitation and ALS.
Specific objectives:
- Become familiar with the latest evidence-based practices in key areas of paediatric resuscitation and ALS
- Become familiar with knowledge gaps in this field.
Literature and sources underlying the course
- 2025 American Heart Association ILCOR PALS guidelines (October 2025)
- 2025 European Resuscitation Council guidelines (October 2025)
- 2023 American Society of Echocardiography recommendations for Cardiac Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Children
- The 11th edition of the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) textbook (July 2025)
Course agenda
| 08:00 - 08:30 | Welcome and opening remarks |
| Paediatric ALS – Updates | |
| 08:30 - 09:10 | Advances Trauma Life Support Pediatric Guidelines: An Update |
| 09:50 - 10:05 | Coffee break |
| 10:05 - 10:45 | Effective ventilation and advanced airway management: An Update |
| 10:45 - 11:25 | Evidence-based Management of Pediatric Septic Shock: An Update |
| 11:25 - 12:05 | Evidence-based Cardiac Point of Care Ultrasound for Pediatric EM |
| 12:15 - 13:15 | Lunch break |
| Paediatric ALS – POCUS workshop | |
| 13:15 - 13:30 | Principles of knobology |
| 13:30 - 14:00 | Focused Abdominal Sonography in Trauma (FAST) |
| 14:00 - 14:30 | Rapid Ultrasound for Shock and Hypotension (RUSH) |
| 14:30 - 14:45 | Coffee break |
| 14:45 - 17:00 | Hands-on practice |
agenda as of 19 February 2026, agenda subject to change
Paediatric lung ultrasound course
About the course
Paediatric lung ultrasound is an important component of contemporary clinical practice and diagnostic pathways in paediatric respiratory medicine, intensive care, and emergency settings. This course has been developed to share evidence-based knowledge and extensive clinical experience in a practical, non-invasive imaging method for assessing lung, pleural, and pleural space pathology in children. The programme integrates focused theoretical sessions with expert demonstrations and supervised hands-on practice. It is suitable for physicians with little or no prior experience in ultrasound who wish to incorporate lung ultrasound into their daily clinical work.
Who should attend
The course is intended for:
- Paediatric pulmonologists
- Paediatric intensivists
- Paediatric infectious disease specialists
- General paediatricians
- Emergency medicine specialists
who require structured and comprehensive training in paediatric lung ultrasound in various clinical settings.
Course objectives
The primary objective is to provide participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to competently perform and interpret lung ultrasound in children.
Upon completion, participants will be able to:
- Understand the fundamental principles of paediatric lung ultrasound
- Distinguish normal from pathological lung ultrasound findings
- Recognise key lung-specific ultrasound artefacts
- Integrate ultrasound findings into clinical assessment and decision-making
Course agenda
| 09:00 - 09:10 | Welcome and introduction |
| 09:10 - 09:30 | Lung ultrasound in practice |
| 09:30 - 09:50 | How to get started: Ultrasound settings, probe selection, positioning |
| 09:50 - 10:10 | Normal lung findings |
| 10:10 - 10:25 | Break |
| 10:25 - 11:45 | Hands-On: Small Group Training |
| 11:45 – 12:15 | Ultrasound findings: Pneumonia, Atelectasis, Lung abscess, Pleural effusion, Pneumothorax |
| 12:15 - 12:45 | Interactive session |
| 12:45 - 13:00 | Wrap up and closure |
agenda as of 19 February 2026, agenda subject to change
How to communicate wisely with parents
Course description
Training curricula for doctors and other healthcare providers often lack modules on communicating effectively with patients. Yet, on a daily basis, your job entails communicating wisely with patients of different ages and families of diverse backgrounds. While some people are naturally good communicators, most are left to trial and error. Here is your chance to take that module missed in medical school, or to refresh your knowledge on the most up-to-date evidence from science and real-world experiences.
In this course, participants will learn the science of communicating with parents and patients in a manner that convinces parents and patients to accept medical interventions that are good for them, and reject over -prescribing of medicine, tests, and therapies that are not needed, and could even do more harm than good. You will gain practical skills about how to communicate with parents and patients about medical advice that has changed, including when new or different medicines and vaccines are recommended. You will learn skills and gain confidence in communicating so that your patients get the best care possible.
Course objectives
By the end of the course, participants will
- be empowered to communicate wisely with parents and patients of different ages
- know the evidence on what works well, under what conditions
- be confident in communicating so that your patients get the best care possible.
Course agenda
| 14:00 - 14:15 | Welcome and opening remarks |
| 14:15 - 14:45 | Choosing Wisely: An overview of EAP CW recommendations development, dissemination, and research |
| 15:15 - 15:45 | The Science of Communication: Strategies and Evidence |
| 15:45 - 16:05 | Break |
| 16:05 - 17:50 |
Skill Building: Short inputs followed by hands on practice to address real world challenges in your practices
|
| 17:50 - 18:00 | Wrap up |
agenda as of 19 February 2026, agenda subject to change
Non Invasive Mechanical Ventilation
European School of Neonatology (ESN) Pre-congress Course
28 October 2026 08:30 - 16:30
Course objectives
-
To understand the working mechanisms and optimization strategies of the more advanced non-invasive ventilation modes (including NIPPV and Synchronized NIPPV, nasal HFV, and NIV NAVA);
-
To learn the principles behind two attractive, non-invasive respiratory function monitoring techniques - the Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) and Respiratory Oscillometry (or FOT) – and their applicability in neonatology.
Course agenda
| 08:30 - 08:40 | Introduction |
| 08:40 - 09:00 | High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) |
| 09:00 - 09:30 | CPAP & NIPPV |
| 09:30 - 09:50 | Non-Invasive High Frequency Ventilation |
| 09:50 - 10:10 | NIV NAVA |
| 10:10 - 10:30 | Coffee break |
| 10:30 - 10:50 | Closed Loop Oxygen Control on Non-Invasive Respiratory Support |
| 10:50 - 11:10 | Electrical Impedance Tomography |
| 11:10 - 11:30 | Respiratory Oscillometry (Forced Oscillation Technique, FOT) |
| 11:30 - 12:00 | Q & A Discussion |
| 12:00 - 12:30 | Lunch |
| 12:30 - 15:30 |
The participants will be divided into 3 groups. 3 Rotating Stations, each station will be 60 minutes.
|
| 15:30 - 16:30 | Q&A, Wrap Up |
agenda as of 3 March 2026, agenda subject to change
Neonatal and Paediatric Vascular Access
European School of Neonatology (ESN) Pre-congress Course
28 October 2026 09:00 - 17:00
Course objectives
This course aims to provide an updated overview of the latest advances in neonatal and paediatric vascular access, in line with NEVAT recommendations. Through focused lectures, participants will explore current evidence, techniques, and best practices for central and peripheral venous access in neonates. Particular emphasis is placed on safe device selection, insertion, and management to improve clinical outcomes. The course also includes hands-on practical sessions using phantoms to develop skills in ultrasound-guided vascular access. Overall, the programme integrates theory and practice to enhance competence and confidence in neonatal vascular access.
Course agenda
| 09:00 - 09:20 | Introduction of the course Time for revolution in neonatal vascular access |
| 09:20 - 09:40 | Vision and mission – the 7 rights |
| 09:40 - 10:00 | Introduction to 10 recommendations: VAMP |
| 10:00 - 10:20 | Ultrasound for assessment of peripheral and central veins |
| 10:20 - 10:40 | Insertion bundles and infection control |
| 10:40 - 11:00 | Procedural comfort strategies |
| 11:00 - 11:30 | Coffee break |
| 11:30 - 11:50 | Intra-arterial access and intraosseous access |
| 11:50 - 12:10 | US insertion of CICC/UVC |
| 12:10 - 12:30 | Tip navigation and tip location |
| 12:30 - 12:50 | Maintenance - Securement of the catheter and protection of the exit site: cyanoacrylate glue and transparent membranes |
| 12:50 - 13:00 | Videos/discussion/Q&A |
| 13:00 - 14:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00 - 17:00 |
Hands on practice
|
| 17:00 | End |
agenda as of 19 February 2026, agenda subject to change
Neonatal Cranial Ultrasound (CUS)
European School of Neonatology (ESN) Pre-congress Course
28 October 2026 09:00 - 17:00
Course objectives
Cranial ultrasound is the most widely used neuroimaging tool to study the newborn brain. Traditionally, its main role was to detect major brain lesions in preterm infants, such as intraventricular haemorrhage and its complications and cystic white matter injury. However, the quality of both the ultrasound equipment and technique has improved considerably over time. This provides new possibilities, for the recognition of other forms of brain lesions, for treatment and for outcome prediction. This workshop focusses on the role of cranial ultrasound for the main neurologic conditions present in the neonatal intensive care unit and focusses on the “how, why, when and what” questions. It brings also many examples and room for interactive discussions.
Course agenda
| 09:00 - 09:15 | Welcome and registration |
| 09:15 - 09:35 | How to optimize image quality |
| 09:35 - 09:40 | Discussion |
| 09:40 - 10:00 | Why perform Doppler ultrasound; technical and clinical aspects |
| 10:05 - 10:25 | Discussion |
| 10:40 - 11:00 | How to image the posterior fossa |
| 10:20 - 10:30 | Discussion |
| 10:30 - 11:00 | Coffee break |
| 11:00 - 11:20 | How to grade IVH + PHI and when to intervene |
| 11:20 - 11:25 | Discussion |
| 11:25 - 11:45 | What to expect from ultrasound in brain infections |
| 11:45 - 11:50 | Discussion |
| 11:50 - 13:00 | Interactive case discussion (stroke, CVT) |
| 13:00 - 14:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00 - 14:20 | Why perform ultrasound in HIE, when you also do MRI |
| 14:20 - 14:25 | Discussion |
| 14:25 - 15:30 | Interactive case discussion (WMI, LSV, germinolysis..) |
| 15:30 - 16:00 | Coffee break |
| 16:00 - 16:30 | Interactive Case discussion (congenital malformations, tumours) |
| 16:30 - 16:50 | QUIZ, show your CUS knowledge and win a prize |
| 16:50 - 17:00 | Closing remarks and goodbye |
agenda as of 19 February 2026, agenda subject to change
Neonatologist Performed Echocardiography (NPE)
European School of Neonatology (ESN) Pre-congress Course
28 October 2026 09:00 - 16:15
Course objectives
- To introduce Neonatologist Performed Echocardiography, both theoretically (lectures) and practically (hands-on).
- To discuss the use of NPE for the assessment of several causes of neonatal haemodynamic failure.
Course agenda
| 09:00 - 09:10 | Welcome |
| 09:10 - 09:50 | Routine Ultrasound Views |
| 09:50 - 10:10 | How to get good images |
| 10:10 - 10:40 | Review “Use of NPE in our clinic – clinical context” |
| 10:40 - 11:00 | Coffee break |
| 11:00 - 11:30 | Assessment of PDA |
| 11:30 - 12:00 | Assessment of PPHN |
| 12:00 - 12:30 | Assessment of Neonatal Shock |
| 12:30 - 13:10 | Lunch |
| 13:10 - 14:40 | Hands-on sessions |
| 14:40 - 15:00 | Coffee break |
| 15:00 - 16:00 | Hands-on sessions |
| 16:00 - 16:15 | Wrap-up & closing |
agenda as of 19 February 2026, agenda subject to change