We were then taken to the opera and afterwards dined at our host's house. At midnight we set off to view the local hospital which had a newly set up pain and palliative care unit. Our visit ended after a 1am ward-round on the intensive care unit. We were then driven to the conference centre in the beautiful resort of Birstonas, situated in a loop of the meandering Nemunas river. Many interesting facets about anaesthetic practice emerged during the course of the ensuing discussions.
Halothane is readily available with only minimal amounts of isoflurane in the larger hospitals.
Only 6 members of the audience had access to fibre-optic intubation equipment. There has been an encouraging increase in the use of regional techniques for obstetrics in the Baltic countries in recent years. Top-ups have to be administered by doctors. There is no entonox and pethidine is rarely given. Both an obstetrician and an anaesthetist have to be present at all deliveries.