38th Annual Congress – Munich

International Congress Center München
Messegelände
81823 München, Germany

The ICM is directly connected to the underground station Messestadt West of the U2 line.
• From the Central Station:
The ride from central station takes less than 20 minutes, no need to change lines.
• From the airport:
Directly below the central area of the Munich Airport, you will find the suburban train (S-Bahn) station for the lines S1 and S8. Trains depart every 10 minutes for the city center. Depending on the route you choose, the ride takes between 45 and 60 minutes.

By taxi:

There is a fixed price from the airport to the ICM or from the ICM to the airport.

It is 94 EUR. It is then up to the Taxi driver to choose the route, usually it is not via the motorway (the motorway is the fasted route but not the shortest and therefore more expensive than the fixed price option).

The passenger must tell the driver that he wants the fixed fare option at the beginning of the journey.

For more information on how to access the venue you can consult this webpage.

NON-SMOKING CONGRESS

ESICM LIVES 202 is a non-smoking Congress. Therefore, ESICM thanks the participants in advance for not smoking in the ICM well as during coffee breaks and reception.

At LIVES 2025 in Munich, the innovative formats of on-site sessions and activities will foster networking and knowledge exchange among colleagues and friends. The scientific programme will feature a diverse array of formats, including dynamic debates, case presentations, interactive lectures, symposia, and case discussions, among many others!

What can you expect at LIVES 2025?

Debates

Engage in in-depth discussions about complex issues that clinicians encounter in their daily practice. Experts from various fields of intensive care medicine will speak on specific topics, followed by a moderated debate where the audience can actively participate.

Clinical-Oriented Debates

Each clinical-oriented debate begins with a brief description of a clinical scenario, outlining a context with various issues. The discussion, always clinically oriented, will address these issues, emphasizing a multidisciplinary approach to the case. At the end, a concise summary with key take-home messages will be presented.

Hot Topics Session

This session, held at the end of the congress, is dedicated to presenting cutting-edge research on the fundamental aspects of Intensive Care Medicine to a large audience.

Latest research from the ICM Journal

This session will delve into a series of recently published papers in the Intensive Care Medicine Journal, exploring their implications for clinical practice.

NEXT Lounge

A dedicated space for young intensivists and ICM trainees to meet, mingle, and enjoy a specially designed parallel scientific programme.

NEXT Escape Games

Join the NEXT Escape Room Challenge at the ESICM Congress! Team up in groups of 3 to 5 and dive into a thrilling clinical case. Solve the puzzle faster than anyone else and win an exciting prize! Remember, spaces are limited, so register onsite early to secure your spot in this captivating test of skills and teamwork.

N&AHP/Pharma Lounge

A dedicated space for Nurses and Allied Healthcare Professionals, as well as those interested in pharmacology, pharmacotherapy, or ICU Pharmacists, to meet, mingle, and enjoy a specially designed parallel scientific programme.

Poster Stations

Abstract presenters will engage in brief discussions about their research, addressing questions and comments from both the moderators and the audience.

Our annual congress, LIVES, aims to address the educational needs of our Intensive Care community and promote the exchange of best practices for improved clinical performance & patient outcomes. For that reason, we have put in place a wide variety of thematic training sessions and events, including 7 pre-congress courses and 4 workshops, scheduled throughout the congress.

Pre-congress courses -  Limited availability!

1 - Advanced Course in Acute Respiratory Failure & Mechanical Ventilation

The ESICM Advanced Course in ARF & MV will integrate at an advanced level topics such as COPD and Weaning (SBT). Interactive lectures will alternate with clinical case discussions, practical demonstrations and discussion of techniques.

Requirements to join the course:

• Completed the ESICM Foundation course in ARF & MV
  OR
• Intensivist (in training), Anaesthesiologist (in training), or physician with at least 2 years of clinical experience in intensive care with ventilated patients
  OR
• Registered ICU Nurse / respiratory therapist with at least two years of experience treating ventilated patients

2 - Advanced Course in Haemodynamics

This ESICM Advanced Course in Haemodynamics will integrate and simulate at advanced level a management plan for the patient advanced monitoring: circulatory failure, fluid accumulation syndrome, preload responsiveness. To do so, participants will get immersed in realistic clinical scenarios using different methodologies including Virtual Reality and practical simulations.

Requirements to join the course:
Participants should have at least a basic understanding of, and preferably clinical experience with, invasive arterial pressure monitoring and derived variables, transpulmonary thermodilution, continuous cardiac output monitoring by pulse contour analysis, pulmonary artery catheterization and critical care ultrasound.

3 - Advanced Course on Critical Care Echocardiography

The ESICM Advanced Course in Intensive Care Echocardiography (EDEC) is designed for intensivists who have achieved a basic level of education and training in the use of echocardiography in an intensive care setting and would like to obtain advanced knowledge and certification of their competency.
Complement this course with a practical workshop that you can book separately during the congress. 

4 - Developing Expert Practice in Sepsis Severe Infections & Stewardship

This event represents the advanced level of the Sepsis, Severe Infections and Stewardship pathway, supported by bioMérieux, and can be completed separately or as part of the learning pathway.
The course will integrate important topics such as challenges in infection management in the ICU, fungal infections, antimicrobial stewardship, challenges in antibacterial therapy and not only.
Participants will have the opportunity to join live discussions, manage complex cases, and tackle controversial topics with world leading experts on the topic.

Requirements to join the course:
Participants should have at least a basic understanding of, and preferably clinical experience with sepsis and infection management (including community-acquired pneumonia, complicated abdominal infection, candida sepsis, fungal infection in the immunosuppressed patient, skin & soft tissue infection, hospital-acquired / ventilation-acquired pneumonia, meningitis, urinary tract infection), treatment and bundles, antimicrobial stewardship (principles, tests, team members, pharmacology).

5 - Transition Course in Intensive Care Nephrology (Intermediate level)

The ESICM Intensive Care Nephrology Pathway is an educational initiative designed to provide a structured framework for education and training in acute kidney injury (AKI) and renal replacement therapy (RRT) to intensive care physicians and allied health professionals.
Level 2 Transition in Intensive Care Nephrology. This level is designed for learners applying key concepts to clinical practice and advancing their analytical skills.
The ESICM Transition course in Intensive Care Nephrology will integrate topics such as epidemiology of AKI, risk factors, clinical examination, prescribing in AKI and RRT. Interactive lectures and tutorials will alternate with case discussions, practical demonstrations and discussion of techniques.

Requirements to join the course:

• Completed the ESICM Foundation course in Intensive Care Nephrology
  OR
• Intensivists seeking a thorough approach in Intensive Care Nephrology
  OR
• Senior intensivists wanting a comprehensive review course on the topic

6 - Fostering Sustainable Practices in Intensive Care

The ESICM Fostering Sustainable Practices in Intensive Care Course aims to provide important insights in the importance of sustainability in the ICU and will finalize with a call for action.

The imperative to embrace environmental sustainability within healthcare is underscored by the many impacts of climate change on public health. The healthcare sector's contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions is in stark contradiction to its mission of promoting health, necessitating a critical look at how healthcare is delivered. Beyond the immediate and direct environmental consequences, the broader implications of climate change, including increased incidence of heat-related illnesses, respiratory conditions, and vector-borne diseases, place additional strain on healthcare resources, further amplifying the urgency for sustainable transformation.

As a leading and global society in intensive care medicine, ESICM acknowledges this critical moment to lead by example, showing that it is possible to maintain, and even enhance patient care standards while significantly mitigating environmental impact of the activities in the ICU.

7 - Faculty Development Day (Intensive Care Fundamentals)

Join us for the next ICF Faculty Development Day (FDD) on 26 October 2025, held during LIVES in Munich. This one-day interactive event is designed for clinicians who want to become certified ICF trainers and play an active role in shaping the future of intensive care education.
The FDD offers practical guidance on delivering the ICF course, including an overview of its educational approach, tips for engaging with young trainees, and real-life showcases from experienced faculty. It's also a great opportunity to connect with a community of passionate educators.

Registration fee: 250 EUR
This includes:

• Certification as an ICF Trainer
• Free entrance to LIVES (if you organise two ICF courses within two years as Course Director)

Do not miss this opportunity to grow as an intensive care educator and contribute to the ICF programme's success across Europe.

Workshops - Limited availability!

1 - Airway management in the critically ill
Duration: 4 hours/workshop
Learning objectives:

• Use of supraglottic airway devices in difficult airway management
• Conduct percutaneous emergency cricothyroidotomy for rescue oxygenation
• Carry out percutaneous tracheostomy in ICU
• Select suitable patients suitable for awake tracheal intubation, preparation and performance using a flexible bronchoscope

Content

• Station 1 - Supraglottic device & video laryngoscopy
• Station 2 - Emergency front of neck airway
• Station 3 - Basics of bronchoscopy in the ICU

2 - ECLS/ECMO

Joint event ESICM & EuroELSO
Duration: 4 hours/workshop

Certification:
Certificates are issued in collaboration with EuroELSO. Certificates may be validated at EuroELSO on the path to the ELSO Adult ECMO Practitioner Certification (E-AEC).

Learning objectives

• Understand the respective indications and basic management of V-A and V-V ECMO
• Identify basic circuit components & mechanical troubleshooting
• Understand the physiology of ECMO-patient interactions
• Identify and manage drainage insufficiency
• Identify and manage recirculation (V-V)
• Identify and manage LV distension (V-A)
• Identify and manage differential oxygenation (V-A)
• Understand the basics of weaning from V-A and V-V ECMO-support

Content

• Station 1 - V-V station
• Station 2 - V-A station
• Station 3 - Normal pump physiology and troubleshooting

 Complement this practical workshop with the pre-Congress Advanced Case Based ECLS/ECMO Course

3 - General Intensive Care Ultrasound
Duration: 4 hours/workshop
Learning objectives:

• Interpret findings from history and examination to recognise the presentation/s
• Demonstrate and apply knowledge of the presentation/s to support inclusion in a
• differential diagnosis
• Formulate a plan of investigation
• Synthesise a full assessment of the patient’s problems
• Define a likely final diagnosis
• Formulate a plan for management x Recognise complications
• Integrate ultrasound findings with other results to guide a case
• Understand the rationale to use ultrasound in each part of the case
• Discuss the use of whole-body ultrasound in the management of the critically ill patient throughout their illness course
• Practice obtaining standard views of the heart and lungs
• Practice obtaining standard views of the brain
• Differentiate the middle cerebral artery from other vessels
• Describe the technique of pulse-wave Doppler analysis of the MCA

Content

• Station 1 - Clinical case discussion
• Station 2 - Mock simulation
• Station 3 - Hands-on

4 - Advanced Critical Care Echocardiography
Duration: 2,5 hours

While the pre-Congress Advanced Course on Intensive Care Echocardiography combines interactive lectures, keynotes and case debates, the practical workshop to be carried out during the congress will help you to complement theory with practice through a two-component workshop:

• Component 1: Manipulation of TEE probe in advanced CCE (1 h)
• Component 2: Image interpretation in advanced ICE (1,5 h)

Please note: workshop slots may be booked also by participants who are registered for the EDEC diploma.

Complement this practical two-component workshop with the pre-Congress Advanced Course in Intensive Care Echocardiography (EDEC)

Registration Department

K.I.T. Group GmbH | Association & Conference Management | Kurfürstendamm 71, 10709 Berlin, Germany | Tel: +49 (0)30 24 603 319 | Email

CONGRESS FEES

Prices are per person and 19% German VAT is included in below costs.

Core Congress (from Mon 27 Oct until Wed 29 Oct)

No coffee breaks/lunches will be provided as part of the congress package.

Pre-Congress Courses WEEKEND (Sat 25 Oct & Sun 26 Oct) - Seats limited!

Pre-congress course WEEKEND on Fostering Sustainable Practices In Intensive Care (Sat 25 Oct & Sun 26 Oct) - Seats limited!

Pre-congress course WEEKEND on Faculty Development Day of the Intensive Care Fundamentals (Sun 26 Oct) - Seats limited!

Congress Workshops WEEK (Mon 27 Oct / Tue 28 Oct / Wed 29 Oct) - Seats limited!

Please note: Registration for the congress is a prerequisite for signing up for the educational sessions carried out during the congress.

NB:

Registrations for more than 5 (five) participants will be handled separately as a group booking.

We also offer free registration for Media representatives. Please send a valid document (press ID) to the ESICM Registration Department by Email before you submit your online registration.

*Low and Lower Middle Income Country (LMIC), as per the World Bank classification.

**N&AHP may be any nurse or allied healthcare professional (see professions here). Industry Representatives cannot be considered as Allied Health Professionals.

***To be purchased on-site.

If you are not yet a member of ESICM, there is no better time to join.
Join now! and benefit from this offer and all the other advantages membership of our global intensive care community brings.
More information about ESICM membership fees, HERE

Registration Dates

• Early registration: until 28 August 2025, 23:59 CEST
• Standard registration: from 29 August until 16 October 2025, 23:59 CEST
• Late registration: from 17 October until end of the congress

Letter of invitation

Individuals requiring an official Letter of Invitation can request one from the ESICM Registration Department. To receive a Letter of Invitation, attendees must first register to the Congress and submit payment in full.
The Letter of Invitation does not financially obligate the K.I.T. Group or ESICM in any way. All expenses incurred in relation to the Congress are the sole responsibility of the attendee.

Terms and Conditions

Available HERE

A number of hotels in different categories have been pre-booked at preferential rates for the congress. Rates include breakfast, local VAT and city tax. The hotels are located both close to the congress venue and in the city centre, with convenient and fast routes to the congress venue.

Book your hotel accommodation ahead of time and benefit from the best rates and choices HERE
Please contact the Hotel Department for further information.

Accommodation
K.I.T. Group GmbH is the official housing agency, selected by the congress organiser, to be in charge of the hotel bookings for ESICM 2025. Individual bookings and small groups of up to 10 delegates can be made via the booking platform which will be available approximately by April 2025.

Group Bookings
Please note that group reservations, 10 rooms or more, will be handled with separate contracts and separate regulations. Please contact the Hotel Department for further information.

The designated official accommodation partner for the ESICM LIVES Annual Congress 2024 in Barcelona is K.I.T. Group GmbH:

K.I.T. Group GmbH
Kurfürstendamm 71
10709 Berlin
Germany
Tel. +49 30 24603 209
Email

Your hotel reservation will be part of the Congress Reservation block booking and the K.I.T. Group GmbH will be available to provide support.