15th Annual Congress of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, 29 September–2 October 2002, Barcelona, Spain: Clinical research to improve outcome

The 15(th )Annual European Society of Intensive Care Medicine Meeting opened in Barcelona, Spain on September 30, 2002. This report focuses on some highlights of this congress. Preliminary data from the Sepsis Occurrence in the Acutely ill Patient (SOAP) study are presented, as are findings from the Assessment of Low Tidal Volume and Elevated End-Expiratory Volume to Obviate Lung Injury (ALVEOLI) study, which compared higher positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)/lower fractional inspired oxygen (FiO(2)) with lower PEEP/higher FiO(2 )strategies. We also present a study that compared continuous with intermittent renal replacement therapies. Finally, the seven posters that received an award are summarized.