I'm here to introduce our host and chairman, Dr. Manu Malbrain.
Dr. Manu Malbrain:
Thank you, Monty. Thank you, Dirk. And welcome, everyone.
This meeting originally started in our hospital in collaboration with the ZiekenhuisNetwerk Antwerpen (ZNA) in Antwerp, Belgium. We're proud to say that this is now the fifth edition of the International Fluid Academy Days (IFAD), and a lot has changed since our first event in 2011.
Over the years, we've come to understand that fluids should be treated as drugs—just like any other medication we administer to patients. That means considering not only the type of fluid, but also the dose, volume, rate of administration, duration, and most importantly, recognizing when to stop fluid therapy once it is no longer beneficial.
Today, I participated in a Pro/Con debate on cardiac output monitoring, where I argued in favor of routine monitoring. I firmly believe that cardiac output assessment should be a standard part of the physiological examination. After all, cardiac output is central to the definition of shock, which is the imbalance between oxygen delivery and oxygen consumption. If we aim to manage shock effectively, then we must monitor cardiac output appropriately.
What makes the Fluid Academy Days unique is that it remains the only dedicated congress focusing entirely on fluids, monitoring, and organ function. It brings together specialists and leading experts from around the globe to explore, debate, and find answers to some of the most pressing questions in critical care medicine.
