Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to invite you on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health and Women of Austria and the Vienna Hospital Association to attend the 1. European Congress on Blood Conservation which will take place in Vienna , October 5-7, 2005. Participants are expected mainly from Austria and the neighbouring countries Czech Republic , Hungary , Slovakia and Germany . Of cou rs e, guests from other countries are welcome to witness the multilingual program.

After the 1st Austrian Congress on blood conservation in 2002, this will be the second meeting on this issue in Austria . Avoidance of blood transfusions is more and more established as the new standard of care in patient safety. However, transfusion practice still varies a lot among European countries, and even within single countries it is being handled differently. Thus, Clinicians require a wide overview on the spectrum of blood conservation methods and transfusion alternatives, in order to provide these beneficial services in a standardized way, being accessible throughout Europe .

As you will see from this program, the lectures and workshops will meet these requirements by offering a multi-disciplinary overview on the status quo, as well as on new perspectives of practical application and techniques. During a total of seven topic blocks, internationally renowned experts from the fields of transfusion medicine, surgery, anaesthesiology, intensive care, haematology, traumatology, obstetrics, neonatology and paediatrics will present their talks. In face of blood scarcity and risks associated with the transfusion of blood and blood components, also economical aspects of blood management will be discussed. Therefore, the congress will also be worth visiting for hospital pharmacists, hospital administrato rs and representatives of the public health system.

Congress Goals at a Glance

•  Updating the level of information on medical and surgical methods and techniques of blood conservation, as well as on new pharmacological developments.

•  Improved assessment of risk-benefit-ratio and of opportunities of cost reduction by applying various blood conservation methods in the day-by-day hospital care.

•  Avoidance of legal and ethical conflict potentials which may occur with medical and surgical treatment without homologous transfusions.

We are looking forward to welcoming you to Vienna.

Should you have further questions or require any additional information on sponsoring and the industry exhibition, please contact the Organizing Bureau. Thank you.