Adnkronos (Adnkronos) – "According to data published a few days ago in an Anaao Assomed study, 3.767 hospital doctors resigned in 2025, more than retired. And the well-being of hospital caregivers is one of the themes of Icare 2026," the 80th national congress of the Italian Society of Anesthesia, Analgesia, Resuscitation, and Intensive Care (SIAARTI), according to a press release, from Thursday, October 22nd to Saturday, October 24th at the Allianz MiCo in Milan.
There are some positive signs for anesthesiologists and resuscitators: in 2026, it is stated, 90% of specialization contracts in Anesthesia and Resuscitation were awarded, compared to 81% in 2025. Safety remains a key concern: the latest report from the National Observatory on the Safety of Healthcare Professionals (Onseps) counts 17.956 reported assaults, with over 23.000 workers involved.
"A doctor leaving the hospital takes away years of training and experience. Those who work in hospitals need sustainable shifts, safe departments, and opportunities for continuous learning, with professional and financial growth," says Elena Giovanna Bignami, president of Siaarti. "But what matters most is having quality time to dedicate to our patients, and this is achieved with adequate staffing and fair workload distribution.
This year, more young doctors have chosen our specialty, and we must live up to their choice. Caring for those who care is the first step. At the congress, we wanted a place where we could stop and be heard: we do it every day with patients, and for once, someone is doing it with us."
The conference will also feature a "confessional," a listening space—the press release details—created in collaboration with the San Raffaele Hospital. The name is ironic: a private room where people can talk face-to-face, confide in one another, and vent. Here, for once, it's the anesthesiologists and resuscitators who speak about themselves. You can stop by for just ten minutes, for a coffee, a chat, or some breathing exercises. Reservations are not required, and you can visit the exhibition area throughout the conference.
The Icare congress program is structured around eight clinical and organizational tracks. Each track focuses on a specific case, session by session: the man suffering cardiac arrest in a shopping mall, the elderly man who breaks his femur, the child with special needs involved in an accident. Four themes recur in each track: patient safety, caregiver well-being, inclusion, and sustainability. The topics were selected through a membership consultation that garnered over 200 responses. Over three days, there are 175 sessions, 330 speakers, and 217 abstracts accepted out of 251 received. More than half of the participants registered so far are women; 104 of the speakers are women. Icare also hosts a veterinary anesthesia congress, with four sessions and a workshop. "In the hospital, a patient passes through many hands: the emergency room, the operating room, the intensive care unit, the ward. The program is the same: each case is followed from arrival to discharge, with anesthesiologists, resuscitators, emergency and pain experts at the same table," explains Franco Marinangeli, head of the Siaarti Congress Committee.
The program includes 11 high-fidelity simulation sessions, at least one for each pathway. Twelve practical workshops focus on coagulation and ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), a life support technique that temporarily replaces lung function and, in certain configurations, also supports cardiac function. Participants practice cannula placement, extracorporeal circuit management, and the recognition and treatment of complications. "Simulation allows you to address critical situations in a safe environment, learn from mistakes, and immediately engage with colleagues. This approach is particularly important in ECMO, because the expertise of the individual professional must integrate with that of the entire team," says Giacomo Grasselli, vice president of Siaarti. "ECMO has received a lot of media coverage this year, but it's crucial to remember that the results of this technique also depend on the centers' organization, ongoing training, and the ability to network. Investing in multidisciplinary training and coordination between facilities is essential to making this therapy increasingly safe and accessible."
This year, Siarti emphasizes, the program isn't being printed: it's on the Siaarti Congressi app. In 2025, there were 2.000 copies of 66 pages. Leftover food isn't wasted: with Food for Good, it's donated. In 2025, over 600 meals went to the Coop San Francesco Association through the Food Bank. In the conference center, the bins from the "Differenziare è curare" campaign explain how to separate waste, starting from a simple idea: in the hospital, every gesture follows a procedure, even when an item has finished being used. The Icare Green & Inclusion project also considers those traveling with children: there's a Kids Area with babysitters and entertainers available upon request. "Operating rooms are among the hospital areas with the greatest environmental impact. Yet, in our survey, 68,7% of members who responded had never received training on waste management. At the conference, we start with the things you can see: no paper programs, no wasted food, bins that explain where things go," adds Roberta Monzani, SIAARTI secretary.
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