Scientific program
Main topics | Scientific program | Speakers
Main topics
The program of the symposium will contain lectures, pro-con debates, round table discussions, case presentations and Meet the Expert sessions.
The following main topics are scheduled for International Winter Symposium in Intensive Care Medicine 2026:
- Update in shock
- Intensive care at states of emergency
- Sustainability in the ICU
- Innovation in intensive care
- Severe brain injuries
- End-of-life
- Recent developments in Sepsis
- Pathophysiology of pulmonary circulation
- Perioperative intensive care
- Management of respiratory failure
Scientific Program
Sunday, January 25, 2026
| 15:15 - 16:15 | Registration and Welcome Coffee |
| 16:15 - 16:30 | Welcome and Introduction Marco Maggiorini, Zurich, CH | Michael Joannidis, Innsbruck, AT |
| 16:30 - 18:30 | Scientific Session I - Update in shock 2025 Chairs: Jean-Louis Vincent, Brussels, BE | Michael Joannidis, Innsbruck, AT |
| 16:30 - 17:00 | Clinical recognition and evaluation in shock Maurizio Cecconi, Milan, IT |
| 17:00 - 17:30 | Echocardiographic hemodynamic phenotyping Antonio Messina, Milan, IT |
| 17:30 - 18:00 | Which hemodynamic monitoring for which patients? Xavier Monnet, Paris, FR |
| 18:00 - 18:30 | Open controversies in Hemodynamic Management Jukka Takala, Bern, CH |
| 18:30 - 19:30 | Welcome Reception |
Monday, January 26, 2026
| 08:00 - 10:30 | Scientific Session II - Recent development in Sepsis Chairs: Jukka Takala, Bern, CH | Emanuela Keller, Zurich, CH |
| 08:00 - 08:30 | Do we really need the word 'sepsis'? Jean-Louis Vincent, Brussels, BE |
| 08:30 - 09:00 | When should we start norepinephrine in septic shock? Xavier Monnet, Paris, FR |
| 09:00 - 09:30 | Blood purification - Finally a role in sepsis? Michael Joannidis, Innsbruck, AT |
| 09:30 - 10:00 | PK - PD of antibiotics: Practical takeaways Jan De Waele, Gent, BE |
| 10:00 - 10:30 | How artificial intelligence will change sepsis management Jean-Louis Vincent, Brussels, BE |
| 10:30 - 10:35 | Short Break |
| 10:35 - 11:05 | Abstract Session I Chairs: Michael Joannidis, Innsbruck, AT | Maurizio Cecconi, Milan, IT |
| 10:35 - 10:45 | Introduction Michael Joannidis, Innsbruck, AT | Maurizio Cecconi, Milan, IT |
| 10:45 - 10:55 | A01 | Role of Femoral Vein Doppler in the Prediction of Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with Complicated Intra-abdominal Sepsis Puneet Khanna, New Delhi, IN | Bhawna Kayarat, New Delhi, IN |
| 10:55 - 11:05 | A02 | Early Quantitative Pupillometry Index (QPi) as a Predictor of Long-Term Outcome in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Patients: A Prospective Observational Study Niraj Kumar, New Delhi, IN | Basavakiran Namdar, Manipal, IN | Keshav Goyal, New Delhi, IN | Mihir Prakash Pandia, New Delhi, IN |
| 11:05 - 11:15 | Room Transfer / Short Break |
| 11:15 - 12:15 | Meet the Expert Session I - Acute pain management in difficult patients Kateryna Bielka, Kyiv, UA |
| 12:15 - 14:00 | Lunch Break |
| 14:00 - 15:00 | Meet the Expert Session II - Antimicrobial stewardship - why every ICU needs it Jan De Waele, Gent, BE |
| 15:00 - 15:15 | Short Break |
| 15:15 - 16:15 | Meet the Expert Session III - Practical aspects of neuromonitoring Emanuela Keller, Zurich, CH |
| 16:15 - 16:30 | Room Transfer / Short Break |
| 16:30 - 18:30 | Scientific Session III - Intensive care in difficult situations and during crisis Chairs: Xavier Monnet, Paris, FR | Lise Piquilloud, Lausanne, CH |
| 16:30 - 17:00 | Keep ICU patients safe during disasters Kateryna Bielka, Kyiv, UA |
| 17:00 - 17:30 | Accidental hypothermia in trauma patients Marco Maggiorini, Zurich, CH |
| 17:30 - 18:00 | Caring about your ICU team in difficult situations Kateryna Bielka, Kyiv, UA |
| 18:00 - 18:30 | Emergency medicine tomorrow Jean-Louis Vincent, Brussels, BE |
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
| 08:00 - 10:30 | Scientific Session IV - Innovation in intensive care Chairs: Jean-Michel Constantin, Paris, FR | Antonio Messina, Milan, IT |
| 08:00 - 08:30 | Future challenges and solutions for intensive care Maurizio Cecconi, Milan, IT |
| 08:30 - 09:00 | Building a sustainable future Jan De Waele, Gent, BE |
| 09:00 - 09:30 | AI in Neurocritical Care Emanuela Keller, Zurich, CH |
| 09:30 - 10:00 | Data Networks and AI Implementation in ICU Maurizio Cecconi, Milan, IT |
| 10:00 - 10:30 | Debate - What does it take to drive innovation in intensive care? Moderator: Maurizio Cecconi, Milan, IT Panelists: Jan De Waele, Gent, BE | Emanuela Keller, Zurich, CH | Xavier Monnet, Paris, FR |
| 10:30 - 10:35 | Short Break |
| 10:35 - 11:05 | Industry Flash |
| 11:05 - 11:15 | Room Transfer / Short Break |
| 11:15 - 12:15 | Meet the Expert Session IV - Quality control in the sepsis management Jean-Louis Vincent, Brussels, BE |
| 12:15 - 14:00 | Lunch Break |
| 14:00 - 15:00 | Meet the Expert Session V - Practical approach to shock Xavier Monnet, Paris, FR |
| 15:00 - 15:15 | Short Break |
| 15:15 - 16:15 | Meet the Expert Session VI - Echocardiography in the resuscitation phase of septic shock Antonio Messina, Milan, IT |
| 16:15 - 16:30 | Room Transfer / Short Break |
| 16:30 - 18:30 | Scientific Session V - Severe brain injuries Chairs: Maurizio Cecconi, Milan, IT | Kateryna Bielka, Kyiv, UA |
| 16:30 - 17:00 | ICU Treatment of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Update and Recent Guidelines Emanuela Keller, Zurich, CH |
| 17:00 - 17:30 | Brain injuries in crisis mode in ICU? Kateryna Bielka, Kyiv, UA |
| 17:30 - 18:00 | Neuromonitoring: Past, Present and Future Emanuela Keller, Zurich, CH |
| 18:00 - 18:30 | Antibiotic dosing in brain infections Jan De Waele, Gent, BE |
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
| 08:00 - 10:30 | Scientific Session VI - Perioperative intensive care Chairs: Andreas Valentin, Vienna, AT | Marco Maggiorini, Zurich, CH |
| 08:00 - 08:30 | Hypotension: why does it matter? Maurizio Cecconi, Milan, IT |
| 08:30 - 09:00 | Non Invasive Respiratory Support after High Risk Surgery: For whom, how and when? Francesca Collino, Turin, IT |
| 09:00 - 09:30 | Cardiac Output Monitoring in high risk patients: Where is the evidence in 2025? Antonio Messina, Milan, IT |
| 09:30 - 10:00 | Surgery associated AKI - a real problem? Michael Joannidis, Innsbruck, AT |
| 10:00 - 10:30 | Debate - Prevent postoperative delirium Moderator: Jean-Michel Constantin, Paris, FR Panelists: Maurizio Cecconi, Milan, IT | Francesca Collino, Turin, IT | Antonio Messina, Milan, IT | Michael Joannidis, Innsbruck, AT |
| 10:30 - 10:35 | Short Break |
| 10:35 - 11:05 | Abstract Session II Chairs: Marco Maggiorini, Zurich, CH | Lise Piquilloud, Lausanne, CH |
| 10:35 - 10:45 | A03 | Beta-lactam dose reductions in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury: a scoping review Mirte Horstink, Rotterdam, NL | Wim Rietdijk, Rotterdam, NL | Dieuwertje Geel, Rotterdam, NL | Nicole Deetman, Dordrecht, NL | Hendrik Endeman, Amsterdam, NL | Birgit Koch, Rotterdam, NL | Corstiaan den Uil, Rotterdam, NL |
| 10:45 - 10:55 | A04 | Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump in Heart Failure-Related Cardiogenic Shock: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials Corstiaan den Uil, Rotterdam, NL | Luca Baldetti, Milan, IT |
| 10:55 - 11:05 | A05 | Optimizing β‑lactam antibiotic exposure in critically ill patients Mirte Horstink, Rotterdam, NL | Dieuwertje Geel, Rotterdam, NL | Corstiaan den Uil, Rotterdam, NL | Nicole Deetman, Dordrecht, NL | Hendrik Endeman, Amsterdam, NL | Alan Abdulla, Rotterdam, NL | Birgit Koch, Rotterdam, NL |
| 11:05 - 11:15 | Room Transfer / Short Break |
| 11:15 - 12:15 | Meet the Expert Session VII - State of the art management in cardiogenic shock Andreas Valentin, Vienna, AT |
| 12:15 - 14:00 | Lunch Break |
| 14:00 - 15:00 | Meet the Expert Session VIII - Optimizing Acute Weaning from Mechanical Ventilation Francesca Collino, Turin, IT |
| 15:00 - 15:15 | Short Break |
| 15:15 - 16:15 | Meet the Expert Session IX - From VILI to P-SILI: implication from clinical practice Lise Piquilloud, Lausanne, CH |
| 16:15 - 16:30 | Room Transfer / Short Break |
| 16:30 - 18:30 | Scientific Session VII - Communication in ICU Chairs: Peter Suter, Geneva, CH | Kateryna Bielka, Kyiv, UA |
| 16:30 - 17:00 | End-of-life decisions - how to communicate with team, patients and family Andreas Valentin, Vienna, AT |
| 17:00 - 17:30 | Tools that can help with communication issues in the ICU Lise Piquilloud, Lausanne, CH |
| 17:30 - 18:00 | Diagnostic errors in critically ill patients - what we know and what to consider Andreas Valentin, Vienna, AT |
| 18:00 - 18:30 | Debate - Breaking bad news in intensive care Moderator: Peter Suter, Geneva, CH Panelists: Lise Piquilloud, Lausanne, CH | Andreas Valentin, Vienna, AT | Jean-Michel Constantin, Paris, FR |
Thursday, January 29, 2026
| 08:00 - 10:30 | Scientific Session VIII - ARDS: Everything is pathophysiology! Chairs: Marco Maggiorini, Zurich, CH | Michael Joannidis, Innsbruck, AT |
| 08:00 - 08:30 | Hemodynamic effects of PEEP and proning Lise Piquilloud, Lausanne, CH |
| 08:30 - 09:00 | Mechanical power, Driving pressure, and Lung injury: Fine Tuning ventilation Francesca Collino, Turin, IT |
| 09:00 - 09:30 | Phenotyping ARDS patients why is it so hard to move on? Jean-Michel Constantin, Paris, FR |
| 09:30 - 10:00 | ARDS: Transition from controlled to assisted ventilation - What are the issues? Lise Piquilloud, Lausanne, CH |
| 10:00 - 10:30 | Debate - APRV: Friend or Foe? Moderator: Michael Joannidis, Innsbruck, AT Panelists: Lise Piquilloud, Lausanne, CH | Francesca Collino, Turin, IT | Jean-Michel Constantin, Paris, FR |
| 10:30 - 10:35 | Short Break |
| 10:35 - 11:05 | Abstract Session III Chairs: Michael Joannidis, Innsbruck, AT | Maurizio Cecconi, Milan, IT |
| 10:35 - 10:45 | A06 | New interventional treatments in high-risk pulmonary embolism, evidence based? Corstiaan den Uil, Rotterdam, NL |
| 10:45 - 10:55 | A07 | Phenotypic analysis of Intra-Abdominal Sepsis: A Retrospective observational study Puneet Khanna, New Delhi, IN | Vinay Gandhi, New Delhi, IN |
| 10:55 - 11:05 | A08 | Development and validation of AI-model to predict refractory septic shock Puneet Khanna, New Delhi, IN | Vinay Gandhi, New Delhi, IN |
| 11:05 - 11:15 | Room Transfer / Short Break |
| 11:15 - 12:15 | Meet the Expert Session X - Patient safety in intensive care - more than just avoiding errors Andreas Valentin, Vienna, AT |
| 12:15 - 14:00 | Lunch Break |
| 14:00 - 15:00 | Meet the Expert Session XI - Airways management during crisis Kateryna Bielka, Kyiv, UA |
| 15:00 - 15:15 | Short Break |
| 15:15 - 16:15 | Meet the Expert Session XII - Inhalatory sedation in the ICU Jean-Michel Constantin, Paris, FR |
| 16:15 - 16:30 | Room Transfer / Short Break |
| 16:30 - 18:30 | Scientific Session IX - Pathophysiology of the pulmonary circulation Chairs: Maurizio Cecconi, Milan, IT | Andreas Valentin, Vienna, AT |
| 16:30 - 17:00 | Physiology of the pulmonary circulation Marco Maggiorini, Zurich, CH |
| 17:00 - 17:30 | Right heart - pulmonary circulation interactions Jukka Takala, Bern, CH |
| 17:30 - 18:00 | Pulmonary hypertension - a challenge for the intensivist Marco Maggiorini, Zurich, CH |
| 18:00 - 18:30 | Right heart dysfunction in VV-ECMO patients Speaker tbd |
Friday, January 30, 2026
08:00 - 10:00 |
Scientific Session X - Patient Care during mechanical ventilation Chairs: Andreas Valentin, Vienna, AT | Marco Maggiorini, Zurich, CH |
| 08:00 - 08:30 | Refractory hypoxemia: What to do before VV-ECMO Lise Piquilloud, Lausanne, CH |
| 08:30 - 09:00 | Awake Prone Positioning: Evidence and Practical Challenges Francesca Collino, Turin, IT |
| 09:00 - 09:30 | Disconfort management during mechanical ventilation - where are we? Jean-Michel Constantin, Paris, FR |
| 09:30 - 10:00 | How to protect the kidneys during mechanical ventilation Michael Joannidis, Innsbruck, AT |
| 10:00 - 10:15 | Closing Remarks and Farewell Michael Joannidis, Innsbruck, AT | Marco Maggiorini, Zurich, CH |
Speakers
We are pleased to welcome the following speakers to the International Winter Symposium 2026:
Prof. Kateryna Bielka, PhD MD - Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv, UA
Prof. Maurizio Cecconi, MD PhD - IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Milan, IT
Francesca Collino, MD - Azienda Ospedaliera Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, IT
PUPH Jean-Michel Constantin - Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, APHP, Paris, FR
Prof. Jan De Waele, MD PhD - Ghent University | Ghent University Hospital, Gent, BE
Prof. Michael Joannidis, MD - Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, AT
Prof. Emanuela Keller, MD - University Hospital Zurich & University of Zurich, Zurich, CH
Prof. em. Marco Maggiorini, MD - University of Zurich, Zurich, CH
Prof. Antonio Messina, PhD - Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, IT
Prof. Xavier Monnet, MD - Bicêtre Hospital, Paris-Saclay University Hospitals, Paris, FR
PD Lise Piquilloud, MD PhD - CHUV Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, CH
Prof. em. Jukka Takala, MD, PhD - Bern, CH
Prof. Andreas Valentin, MD MBA - Vienna Health Care Group, Clinic Donaustadt, Vienna, AT
Prof. Jean-Louis Vincent, MD PhD - Université Libre de Bruxelles | Erasme University Hospital, Brussels, BE