Pre-Congress – hands-on interventional techniques
The Pre-Congress course began with opening remarks from Dr. Ovidiu Palea, Senior Consultant in Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, FIPP, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Florian Berghea, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Senior Consultant in Rheumatology.
Following the introductory session, participants began the practical program, organized into eight workstations featuring fluoroscopic and ultrasound-guided techniques.
Fluoroscopic-guided hands-on stations
Participants explored:
- Trigeminal nerve block;
- Sphenopalatine nerve block;
- Epidurolysis with Racz Catheter;
- Superior Thoracic Interlaminar Splanchnic Plexus block;
- Lumbar Transforaminal Facet, MBB.
Ultrasound-guided hands-on stations
Techniques covered included:
- Shoulder Area – Suprascapular Nerve;
- Cervical Selective Nerve Root, MB, Facet, GON, Stellate Ganglion;
- Lumbar Spine, Caudal, Sacroiliac Joint, Piriformis, Pudendal;
- Intercostal, Erector Spinae, Paravertebral, TH Facet, TAP, QL.
The hands-on format gave participants the opportunity to master intervention techniques and exchange experience directly with internationally recognized specialists.
National Congress of Interventional Pain Therapy
The program continued from June 19th to 20th with the National Congress of Interventional Pain Therapy.
The first day of the congress featured four scientific sessions focused on spine surgery, nervous system procedures, psychological implications and neuromodulation, and cancer-related pain.
Key topics included discogenic low back pain, vertebrogenic pain, epidurograms, interventional treatment for complex facial pain, neurolytic blocks, stress and pain, intravenous ketamine for chronic pain, and oncological pain management.
June 20: Spinal surgery, neuromodulation, and new directions in pain therapy
The second day of the congress featured sessions dedicated to spinal pain and its associated medical treatments, neurosurgery and spinal interventions, and neurophysiology and medical imaging.
Topics presented included:
- basivertebral nerve ablation;
- recent trends in spinal cord stimulation;
- chronic post-surgical radiculopathy;
- percutaneous TLIF;
- sacroiliac joint fusion;
- management of chronic post-amputation and post-mastectomy pain;
- EMG and pain assessment;
- fibromyalgia;
- imaging for interventional procedures;
- pelvic pain in endometriosis;
- inflammatory low back pain.
The congress concluded with a Q&A session and closing remarks, moderated by Dr. Ovidiu Palea.
An international perspective on interventional pain therapy
Over the course of four days, participants gained access to the expertise of specialists from Romania and abroad through a program that combined medical education, hands-on practice, and the latest insights in the field of interventional pain therapy.
The scientific program highlighted the multidisciplinary nature of pain management and the importance of inter-specialty collaboration for patient assessment and treatment.
Thank you to everyone involved
ARAI would like to thank all the speakers, trainers, moderators, organizers, and partners who contributed to the success of this event.
We extend a special thank you to the national and international experts who shared their experience and knowledge, as well as to all the participants who contributed through their questions, discussions, and active engagement throughout these four days of medical education.
Through such meetings, ARAI continues to support continuing medical education and the development of interventional pain therapy in Romania.
