1st European Symposium on Liquid Ventilation - Co-organized by Unidad Neonatal, Hospital de Cruces, Basque Country University Medical School, Bilbao, Spain and Clinic of Neonatology CCM, Charité Humboldt-University Berlin, Germany - Scientific Committee: Roland R. Wauer Berlin, Germany and Adolf Valls i Soler Bilbao, Spain - November 26­27, 1999, Charité, Berlin, Germany

Abstract

Addressing the most recent advances and research results in the understanding and state of the art on LIQUID VENTILATION, we learned, that not only pediatricians and neonatologists, but also anesthesiologists, intensivists, biologists, chemists, pharmacologists and biophysicians were interested. Furthermore, we were able to integrate representatives of the pharmaceutic industry interested in future developments in this exciting field. - Our main goal both was and is to provide an opportunity for all European researchers in this field to meet and get to know each other. Thus we provided both a scientific and a friendly atmosphere to foster the exchange of experiences and to facilitate future joint projects. - Our long term aim is to harmonize efforts to accelerate the different research steps to close the time gap between research and its future clinical application. We hope this meeting will be a starting point for collaboration of clinical groups in Europe, to study all research aspects of the technique to carry on future trials. Therefore we are planning to initiate a WWW webside. - There are still a lot of unanswered questions, regarding the physicochemical properties, biological effects and possible indications to use Perfluorocarbons for liquid ventilation. We are aware that none of the open questions could be answered completely, but hopefully collaboration and communication will bring us closer to achieve these goals. Moreover, concerted actions should be started to search for research grant founding.