Dear Colleagues and Friends, On behalf of the Society of Anaesthesiologists and Reanimatologists of Latvia and the ESRA Organising Committee, it is a great pleasure to welcome you to the Joint Meeting with ESRA “Advances and Trends in Regional Anaesthesia” on 20-22nd May 2010 in Riga, Latvia.

To continue the tradition, we again bring together colleagues – anaesthesiologists of the Baltic countries – this time in the field of regional anaesthesia and pain therapy.

Regional anaesthesia is characterised by its high standard of technology. The targeted sessions are designed to provide delegates with the best current thinking relevant to these areas of anaesthesia and pain therapy. The scientific sessions, panel discussions and workshops will be hosted to enhance learning and encourage experience in regional anaesthesia and pain therapy.

Although the great majority of delegates will be anaesthesiologists, the meeting is also relevant to neurologists, anatomists, radiologists and other experts who take an interest in the field of regional anaesthesia. This is a multidisciplinary meeting including presentations from specialists in different fields. In addition to the scientific programme, there will be sessions devoted to peripheral nerve blocks, central nerve blocks, catheter techniques, neuromodulation therapy, anatomy and radiology of involved structures and others. The ultrasound guided block workshops and cadaver workshops will also be very interesting.

The venue for the meeting is the hall with excellent acoustics in the prestigious Latvian Riga Stradins university in Riga.

Finally, our Congress will be a unique opportunity to visit Riga, one of the most beautiful cities of Baltic countries. Riga offers a bridge between West and East. You will have plenty of touring and shopping opportunities to take advantage of in Riga and Jurmala and also the exciting dinner in Botanic garden.

We believe that this meeting will strengthen relationship not only between anaesthesiologists of the three Baltic countries but also with other European countries and the rest of the World.

We hope that you will enjoy this educational experience and opportunity to meet famous top experts in this field.

Indulis Vanags
President of the Society of Anaesthesiologists and Reanimatologists of Latvia