Dear Collegues,

Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) continues to rapidly expand worldwide and has become an accepted therapeutic option for critically ill patients. Modern ECMO can save lives in severe circulatory and respiratory failure in all age groups. Many consider this new technology as the most important innovation in recent intensive care medicine.

However, to be successful, training and experience are indispensable. Both the knowledge of efficiency of ECMO, but also of potential complications is needed. This had inspired us last year to offer a course on ECLS for adult patients at the ECMO Center of Regensburg. As the response was very positive, and ELSO officially endorsed the course, we want to repeat this training opportunity on an annual basis. The course, including both lectures and hands-on, will again be an introduction into ECMO therapy in Critical Care today, embedded within state-of-the-art conventional treatment. A printed and electronic script in combination with the ELSO Red Book will allow ongoing training.

Regensburg has hosted the 4th international congress of the EuroELSO in 2015.  As an important mediaeval trading centre, Regensburg served as a bridge from south to north and west to east. You will be able to enjoy the beauty of our old city in the evenings. Extracorporeal life support therapies likewise may serve in many instances as a bridge, a bridge to survival.

We cordially welcome you to participate at this forthcoming training event in Regensburg,

Thomas Müller                      Alois Philipp                Dirk Lunz                    Matthias Lubnow