THEME 1: Procedural comfort challenges in special patient populations
A. Strategies for procedural comfort in neonates
Neonates and preterm babies are particularly vulnerable for procedure-related distress. In this session you will learn about pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies for procedural comfort, including methods inspired by key-principles from NIDCAP and Family Integrated Care.
Given by: Anne van Kempen + Mats Eriksson + Stina Klemming
B. Establishing trust in children with autism
Learn evidence-based strategies for meeting the particular needs of persons with autism. Discover the ‘Autistic SPACE’: Sensory needs, Predictability, Acceptance, Communication and Empathy
Given by: Mary Doherty + Felix Kreier
C. The special procedural comfort needs of Special Needs Children
Children with severe mental disabilities are particularly vulnerable for procedure-related pain and distress. They experience more painful events than other children, their pain and fear are often overlooked while their pain-modulation is usually less developed. In this sessions experts share their practice-based experience
Given by: Annemieke Kanninga + Egidio Barbi
D. Guiding children with severe psycho-trauma through medical procedures
Some children come with substantial traumatic memories that make their medical encounters and procedures highly stressful and often impossible. In this session you learn specific approaches on how to heal trauma and reestablish trust
Given by: Sophie Ebbeler + Inge de Vlieger + Lien Dierickx
Theme 2: Play, Suggestion & Learning
A. Suggestion and Hypnosis for procedural comfort
Hypnotic language and positive expectations are core aspects of the procedural dialogue in children and enhance engagement, emotional regulation and feelings of trust. Mastering these techniques therefore offers substantial advantage to healthcare providers involved in pediatric procedures. In this session, two top experts share key practical tools and will teach the participants the “Magic Glove”, a versatile technique to provide comfort from painful procedures.
Given by: Stefan Friedrichsdorf + Gabriel Brändle
B. ‘Playing in the Operating Room’: Managing pre-operative anxiety in children
In the operating room and particularly during anesthesia induction children often experience significant fear. To overcome their resistance physical restraint is frequently used. How can this be done differently? How do you transform a stressful setting into a playful experience for everyone?
Given by: Birgit Loveniers + Nina Cuelenaere + Myrthe Levering
C. Virtual and augmented reality for procedural comfort
Virtual reality and augmented reality can effectively distract children during unpleasant procedures. Which children and procedures benefit most from these techniques? And how do you best implement them? You'll learn it all in this session
Given by: Cyril Sahyoun + Daniel Kemppi + Jessica Nijs
D. Ready for procedural comfort care: PROSA training and education
Procedural comfort requires integrating multiple strategies and a well-orchestrated collaboration across professionals and disciplines. Which learning strategies can help to make this dream a reality?
Given by: Lize Ockeloen
Theme 3: Common Procedures
A. Sedation strategies for imaging procedures
During imaging procedures, children often need to lie still for extended periods. Sometimes non-pharmacological methods are not sufficient. Which sedation techniques are then safe and succesful? And how do you organize them? Refer to anesthesia or are nurse-led strategies equally effective?
Given by: Grant Stuart + Mohamed Mahmoud + Linda Schuiten
B. Managing Difficult Intravenous Access (DIVA) in children: where PROSA meets Ultrasound-Guided vascular access
Anxiety makes venipuncture difficult, and difficult procedures increase anxiety. Combining ultrasound guidance with PROSA comfort strategies breaks this cycle. Learn about this proven approach and how to implement it successfully in your practice
Given by: Philip van Haren + Martien Humblet + Robin van der Lee
C. Delivering Procedural Comfort Across Paediatric Specialties: Shared Challenges, Universal Solutions (ENT, Optometry and Paediatric Dentistry)
Delivering procedural comfort is a fundamental component of high-quality paediatric care, yet remains a consistent challenge across clinical settings. Clinicians in Otolaryngology (ENT), Optometry, and Paediatric Dentistry encounter common barriers, including child anxiety, time constraints, parental expectations, and the need to complete procedures safely and effectively. While these challenges are often managed within specialty-specific frameworks, the underlying behavioural, relational, and sensory dynamics are shared. Recognising this provides a foundation for developing practical, transferable solutions across disciplines
Given by: Florine Pillon + Heleen Veen + Rose Marie Daly + Anne-Sophie Vinck
D. Managing pain- and stressful procedures in the Emergency Department
Children presenting to the Emergency Department often need to undergo painful medical procedures. Providing procedural comfort in this busy setting where time is limited presents a significant challenge. In this session, three experienced pediatric emergency physicians will guide you through practical solutions that make a real difference
Given by: Giorgio Cozzi + Julia Höffe + Dominique Ploin
Theme 4: Family Integrated Procedural Care
A. Parents and healthcare professionals: how to create a successful collaboration to optimize procedural care
Parents and caregivers are always the experts on their child. Yet they might need help to learn how they can best support their child during medical procedures. But once they become skilled, they are of invaluable value to healthcare providers. In this session, you'll learn how healthcare providers and parents can strengthen each other's wisdom and expertise to make the best possible procedural decisions.
Mark Hendriks, anesthesiologist, and Vera Tomassen – de Waal, special needs mom, will share how they collaborated successfully, making a personalized plan to put Vera’s special needs daughter under anesthesia in order to combine several medical procedures during a one day hospital admission.
Given by: Mark Hendriks + Vera Tomassen - de Waal
B. The Nasogastric Tube challenge: how to make it a pleasant experience for all?
Inserting a nasogastric tube is one of the most stressful procedures in childhood. Not only for the child, but for everyone involved. In this session, you'll receive practical tools for optimal comfort
Given by: Michèle Vranken + Cyril Sahyoun + Jo Vrancken
C. Listening with Eyes and Ears to see a child: Supporting meaningful procedural choices and positive experiences
This workshop invites delegates to step into a child’s procedural journey, before, during, and after a procedure through insights from children and families alongside real-world examples from observed procedures. Delegates will explore children and their parents verbal and non-verbal cues at key moments, while embedding iSupport principles to support rights-based meaningful, individualised procedural choices. By focusing on children’s real feelings, interests, and diverse needs, including babies and those requiring additional support, the session aims to equip professionals with practical ways to truly connect with and advocate for every child.
Given by: Lucy Bray
D. Developmental alignment in pediatric care: communication and play in clinical practice
Children’s responses to medical care and their interactions with healthcare professionals are shaped by their developmental level. How can professionals align with the child’s cognitive, emotional and social development? Through a practice-oriented framework, this session explores how communication and play can be tailored across childhood and adolescence to enhance participation and procedural comfort in paediatric care.
Given by: Janne Vanhalst + Line Klingen Gjærde
Theme 5: Sedation Symposium
A. Safety First: Risk Recognition & Rescue
- Interactive video simulations of assessment, adverse events, and rescue
- Practical strategies for recognizing risk and responding effectively
B. Successful Sedation: Medication Strategies, Dosing, and Outcomes that Matter
- Choosing medications, routes, and doses through cases and debate
- Redefining “successful” sedation beyond procedure completion
C. Beyond the Algorithm: Complexity, Diversity, and the Power of the Parent Voice
- Approaches for neurodiverse and medically complex children
- Interactive cases and parent perspectives that reshape future decisions
D. Innovations & Future Directions
- New agents, evolving models of care, and emerging innovations
Coordination: Mark Roback, Maala Bhatt
Faculty: Joseph Cravero, Kelsey Miller, Silvia Bressan, Vera Tomassen - de Waal, Mary Landrigan-Ossar, Sharron van den Berg.