Successful Conclusion of the Paris World Congress on Regional Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine

Dear Esteemed Colleagues,

The curtains have fallen on the Paris World Congress of Regional Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine, leaving us with indelible memories of an unparalleled experience. Without a doubt, WCRAPM 2023 stands as the pinnacle among global gatherings, uniting friends from every corner of the world with a shared commitment to advancing the knowledge of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine.

Never before have we witnessed such a remarkable gathering of leading experts from the five major global societies—ESRA, ASRA PM, AFSRA, AOSRA-PM, and LASRA. The congress featured exceptionally timely topics, drawing a robust attendance and active participation in nearly every session. I want to express my sincere thanks to each of you for your steadfast enthusiasm, as it is the combined dedication of this community that has brought about this significant achievement.

The richness of the congress was mirrored in the exceptional abstract submissions. A notable total of 740 abstracts, a 40% increase compared to typical ESRA congresses, were submitted and approved. The meticulous efforts of our organizers ensured that 317 abstracts—comprising 252 e-posters and 65 free oral presentations—were presented and evaluated in person, constituting 43% of the highest-scoring abstracts from the online evaluation phase.

The diverse array of abstracts delved into cutting-edge topics aligned with contemporary scientific interests. From distal and motor-sparing blocks responding to the evolving ERAS concept to the validation of emerging clinical practices, the breadth of subjects covered was truly impressive. Noteworthy focus was placed on transitional pain, big data, and addressing the challenges of achieving optimal analgesia in major abdominal surgeries without the complications associated with classical techniques.

Last year, we implemented a comprehensive abstracts policy and reviewer’s guidelines, outlined in detail here. The rigorous evaluation process, involving three evaluators for each abstract, was designed to ensure transparency and fair assessments. A detailed evaluation guide across five domains was developed to maintain uniformity, with 30% of the total score determined through online assessment and the remaining 70% during face-to-face presentations.

The comprehensive collection of abstracts accepted by the ESRA’s abstracts committee for the World Congress on Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (WCRAPM 2023) can be found at https://rapm.bmj.com/content/48/Suppl_1.

We take immense pleasure in congratulating the winners in each category!

Best Regional Anaesthesia Oral Free Paper

• 1^st place: Charlotte De Loecker et al. OP004 High- versus low- dose dexamethasone (dex) for postoperative analgesia after caesarean section (cs): a randomized, double-blind, two-center study.
• 2^nd place: Alexis Bikfalvi et al. OP001 Prospect guideline for haemorrhoid surgery: a systematic review and procedure‐specific postoperative pain management recommendations.
• 3^th place: Nicoletta Filetici et al. OP006 Effect on sacral spread of local anesthetic with 27-g spinal needle dural puncture epidural analgesia compared to epidural analgesia during labor: a randomised, controlled trial.

Best Chronic Pain Oral Free Paper

• 1^st place: Margarita Blajeva et al. OP017 Peri-operative cognitive behavioural therapy compared with pain education and mindfulness for chronic post-surgical pain in breast cancer patients with high pain catastrophising characteristics: a randomised, controlled, double-blind clinical trial.
• 2^nd place: Adlai Pappy II et al. OP014 Prospective Survey of Health Utility State of Chronic Migraine Patients to Assess Quality-Adjusted Life-Years.
• 3^rd place: Poupak Rahim Zadeh et al. OP011 The analgesic efficacy of low power laser in osteoarthritis patients under treatment with periarticular steroid injection.

Best E-Posters Regional Anesthesia

• 1^st place: Jon Bailey et al. #36422 Continuous deep serratus anterior plane block for sternotomy analgesia following cardiac surgery: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded feasibility study.
• 2^nd place: Tural Alekberli et al.  #35941 Impact of obesity on clinically significant respiratory events following cesarean delivery: is a 24-hour high acuity setting necessary for patients with BMI >50 kg/m2.
• 3^rd place: Anna Seisl et al. #35792 Adding pecs II block to multimodal analgesia halves 24-hour postoperative opioid requirements after minimally invasive cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass – a triple-blinded, randomized, controlled trial.

Best e-posters Chronic Pain

• 1^st place: Carolina Sousa Dias et al. #36187 Transcranial direct current stimulation for chronic pain management in knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
• 2^nd place: Nishkarsh Gupta et al. #35742 Effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on pain and quality of life in post-mastectomy pain syndrome: a prospective RCT.
• 3^rd place: Kim Yujin et al. #35607 Involvement of the spinal γ-aminobutyric acid receptor in the analgesic effects of intrathecally injected hypertonic saline in spinal nerve-ligated rats.

From left to right: Jon Bailey (1st place Best E-Posters RA), Margarita Blajeva (1st place Best Chronic Pain Oral Free Paper), Adlai Pappy II (2nd place Best Chronic Pain Oral Free Paper), Carolina Sousa Dias (1st place Best e-posters Chronic Pain), Alexis Bikfakvi (2nd place Best RA Oral Free Paper), Nicoletta Filetici (3rd place Best RA Oral Free Paper)

Heartfelt congratulations to all the awardees for their outstanding contributions.
May this be the commencement of a splendid and fruitful research journey, paving the way for a promising future.

You are the architects of tomorrow!