Conference Proceedings – NASCON 2025

INTRODUCTION

The Neonatal Anesthesia Society (NAS) was established with the vision of advancing knowledge, skill development, and academic collaboration in the evolving subspecialty of neonatal anesthesia. The society has consistently focused on addressing the unique physiological, pharmacological, and perioperative challenges encountered while caring for newborns and neonates.

Continuing this academic mission, NASCON 2025, the 4^th National Conference of NAS, was held in physical mode on 6–7^th September 2025 at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Nagpur. The conference was conducted under the leadership of Dr. Amrusha Raipure (Organizing Chairperson) and Dr. Barkha Agrawal (Organizing Secretary) and under constant guidance of Dr. Usha Saha (President, NAS) whose efforts contributed significantly to the scientific and organizational success of the meeting, and with full support of Dr. P. P. Joshi, Executive Director, AIIMS, Nagpur and Dr. Gajanan Chavan, Professor and Head, Department of Anaesthesiology, AIIMS, Nagpur.

THEME

In keeping with the tradition of theme-based academic focus, NASCON 2025 was centered on “Neuro-Spine Surgical procedures in the Newborn and Neonates: Challenges for the Anesthetist,” addressing an area of growing surgical complexity and clinical relevance, encompassing neonatal neurophysiology, craniospinal development, intracranial and spinal pathologies, perioperative neuroprotection, and concerns related to anesthesia-induced neurotoxicity.

REGISTRATIONS

NASCON 2025 witnessed wide national participation from anesthesiologists, pediatric anesthesiologists, neonatologists, pediatric surgeons, trainees, and allied healthcare professionals. A total of 100 delegates attended the main conference, while 161 delegates participated in the pre-conference workshops. This strong participation reflected the increasing academic reach and relevance of NAS activities.

PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS

Continuing the decentralized workshop model adopted in previous years, pre-conference workshops were conducted 1 to 2 weeks before the conference to facilitate hands-on training with maximum benefit to the delegates while minimizing disruption to clinical services. A total of 161 delegates participated in workshops conducted at 5 centers across the country: Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalay, Delhi; ABVIMS and Dr. RML Hospital and Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital, Delhi; Government Medical College, Nagpur; PGIMER, Chandigarh; and Pt. JNMMC, Raipur.

The workshops focused on two primary issues of concern in the neonates: Airway management and perioperative neonatal resuscitation, emphasizing simulation-based learning, structured demonstrations, and interactive discussions. These sessions were well-received for their practical relevance and skill-oriented approach.

SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM

NASCON 2025 featured a comprehensive two day scientific program designed to provide balanced coverage of foundational concepts, recent advances, and practical challenges in anesthesia for neurospine surgeries in the neonate and perioperative care. The program included plenary lectures, thematic sessions, panel discussions, Pro–Con debates, free paper presentations, poster sessions, and a quiz competition. Scientific deliberations covered neonatal neuro-anesthesia fundamentals, cranial and spinal developmental anomalies, anesthetic management in raised intracranial pressure, fluid and blood loss management, advanced monitoring modalities including NIRS, emerging trends such as artificial intelligence (AI), research methodology in neonatal anesthesia, and a session on anesthesia for ophthalmic surgeries in neonates.

ORATION

The prestigious Dr. Usha Saha Oration at NASCON 2025 was delivered by Dr. Bhau M Rajurkar, a senior Pediatric anesthesiologist from Nagpur, titled “Evolution of Neonatal Anesthesia.” Enriched by decades of clinical experience, Dr. Rajurkar provided valuable insights into the growth and changes in the practice of anesthesia in neonates. It was highly appreciated by the audience.

FREE PAPER AND POSTER SESSIONS

NASCON 2025 offered a robust academic platform for showcasing clinical and research work. A total of five free papers were submitted, of which the best three were selected for oral presentation. In addition, seven posters covering a wide spectrum of case reports, reviews, and innovative practices were presented. These sessions were actively attended and evaluated by experienced faculty, ensuring constructive academic feedback.

QUIZ COMPETITION

The quiz was one of the most engaging sessions of the conference, with three teams participating. The event tested knowledge, clinical reasoning, and decision-making skills and was enthusiastically received by participants and delegates alike.

AWARDS

NASCON 2025 recognized academic excellence and active participation through multiple awards. The Pro–Con Debate Awards were presented to Dr. Lt. Col Akhil Goel and Dr. Mridul Dhar. Dr. Anita Malik Best Free Paper Award was conferred upon Dr. V. K. Narayanan (AIIMS Delhi) for his study on “Efficacy of lung ultrasound in predicting postoperative pulmonary complications in neonates undergoing cardiac surgery,” followed by Dr. Preeti G Varshney at 2^nd position and Dr. Neelkanth D Shinde at 3^rd. Poster presentation awards, instituted by Dr. Arti Rajput in memory of her father, Late Shri Karan Singh Jasrotia, were awarded to Dr. Sujata Rawlani (Mumbai) – “Navigating Challenges: Successful Anesthesia for Very Low Birth Weight Baby with Retinopathy of Prematurity” and Dr. Trisha Kshirsagar (JNMC Aligarh) –“Giant Occipital Encephalocele in a Neonate – Innovative Positioning for Optimal Airway Management – Case Report.” The Quiz Competition was won by Dr. Soumya Andankar and Dr. Neha Netam from Pt. JNMC, Raipur, with Dr. Vanashri Pabari (AIIMS Nagpur), with Dr. Ayushi Singhal (Jupiter H, Thane) at 2^nd position. Quiz awards were sponsored by Dr. Ranju Gandhi and Dr. Gaurang Kothari. The Just a Minute (JAM) session was won by Dr. Trisha Kshirsagar and Dr. Bhuvaneswari B (2^nd position).

INAUGURATION AND CULTURAL EVENT

The inauguration ceremony formally marked the commencement of NASCON 2025 and included lamp lighting, welcome addresses, and acknowledgments of the organizing team and faculty. The Honorable Executive Director and CEO of AIIMS Nagpur, Prof. Dr. Prashant P. Joshi, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Cultural programs and the conference dinner fostered informal interaction and collegiality among delegates and faculty. This was followed by a cultural event by the Undergraduates of AIIMS Nagpur, dance and song presentations by the delegates, and a Gala Dinner.

GENERAL BODY MEETING

GBM was held during the conference in the presence of office bearers and members. The Secretary welcomed the members, followed by an address from the President appreciating the organizing committee, faculty, and delegates. Key decisions included retaining the Life Membership fee at ₹5000 and reaffirming Life Membership and conference registration as prerequisites for faculty participation. It was confirmed that NASCON 2026 will be held at Pt. JNMMC, Raipur in September 2026, under Dr. Pratibha Jain Shah, with a proposed theme on “Metabolic disorders in neonates” while NASCON 2027 was proposed for Hyderabad under Dr. Raja Hadigal.

CONCLUSION

NASCON 2025 successfully upheld the vision and mission of the Neonatal Anesthesia Society by delivering a focused, high-quality academic program on anesthesia for neonatal neurospine procedures. The integration of structured scientific sessions, interactive formats, hands-on workshops, and enthusiastic delegate participation, reinforced the role of NAS as a dedicated national platform for advancing the practice and education of neonatal anesthesia and perioperative care, in India.