The First International Symposium on the Prevention and Treatment of Burns was held in Bilbao from 13th to 16th February 1990, organized by Dr F. J. Gabilondo Zubizarreta, Director of the Division of Plastic Surgery and Burns Therapy at the Hospital of Cruces Baracaldo (Biscay).
The Symposium, sponsored by the Consejeria de Sanidad y Consurno of the Basque Region, the Fondo Investigaciones Sanitarias S.S., the Excmo. Ayuntamento of Bilbao, and the Excma. Diputaci6n Foral of Biscay, was highly successful, both culturally and scientifically.
The proceedings lasted for three very full days, during which all aspects of burn problems were dealt with.
In the session "Epidemiology and Classification of Burns", the speakers included J.M. Bejar (Bilbao) on "Epidemiological study in the last two years in the Burns Unit of the Cruces Hospital", and R. Gaviria (Bilbao) on "Epidemiology of burns in infancy", providing a complete picture of the incidence of burns in Biscay. X. Santos Heredero (Madrid) presented a very accurate and complete paper on the problems arising out of "Transport of the burn patient".
The very interesting session on "Care of the severely burned patient" included papers read by Nurses C. Garcia (Bilbao) on "The difficulties of canalization", C. Galleg (Bilbao) on "Respiratory distress in the burned adult", and M. Villar (Bilbao) on "Care of the severely burned patient in the first 24 hours".
Various aspects of clinical and nursing treatment were considered in the session on "Physiopathology -respiratory problems and nutritional support of the critically burned patient". The following physicians spoke: C. Jul (Bilbao) on "The physiopathology of burns", J. ZaIdumbide (Bilbao) on "Metabolic support of the severely burned patient", J. Safont Albert (Valencia) on "Shock and alimentation in burn patients", L. Cobo (Bilbao) on "Respiratory lesions in the burn patient", and M. Hermana (Bilbao) on "Medical assistance in the critically burned child".
The high level of nursing competence achieved by the Bilbao Burns Centre was attested by Nurse D. Garcia, who read an interesting report on "Preparation and maintenance of parenteral nutrition in the critically burned patient", and Nurse M. J. Fem6ndez (Bilbao), who considered "Contamination control of parenteral nutrition sacs".
During the session devoted to "Resuscitation of the critically burned patient", V. Garcia Torres (Madrid) spoke with great clarity about the most up-to-date developments in "The physiopathology and treatment of shock", T. Gom6z Cia (Seville) considered "Resuscitation of the burn patient", and M. Masellis (Palermo) outlined the importance of a "Personalized resuscitatory therapy".
With regard to "Special burns" J. Blanco Tuh6n (Le6n) discussed "Burns in infancy", R. Erickson M6ndez (Seville) "Bums of the hand" and F. Martelo Villar (La Corufia) "Chemical and electrical burns".
Some particular procedures were dealt with by F. Armas (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria) in "The treatment of burn patients in collaboration with specialized centres", R. Berrocal (Bilbao) in "The use of fibrin adhesive in burns treatment", A. Rico Aguado (Madrid) in "The treatment of burns sequelae in the hand", and J. L. Jim6nez (Bilbao) in an interesting paper on "The relation between mental health and post-burn rehabilitation in the child".
Some very accurate papers and videotapes were presented during the session devoted to "Prevention". D. J. M. Ruiz Iturregui (Bilbao) spoke on "The prevention of accidental burns in industry", D.J. Viadas del Campo (Pelicula) on "The prevention of electrical bums", and L. Noval (Hunosa) (Asturias) on "The prevention of burns in mines". M. M. Ferrara (Palermo) presented a videotape on "The prevention of burns in children".
The third day was given up to four topics of considerable importance. With regard to the organization of Burn Care Centres, M. Masellis (Palermo) presented a videotape on "The functioning of a Centre for severely burned patients", J. Bahuelos (Barcelona) spoke on "A proposal for a Unit for critically burned patients", and A. Sutherland (Edinburgh) described "The organization of the Edinburgh Burn Unit".
The topic "Asepsis and the control of infection" was considered both medically, by V. Garcia Torres (Madrid) in a paper on "Means of asepsis and the fight against infection", and from the nursing viewpoint, by Nurses B. Laiz (Bilbao), P. Silverio Pacheco (Madrid), R: Moreno Duarte (Sevilla) and M.J. - G6mez (Barcelona), who with extensive knowledge of the problem reviewed all the aspects of the prevention of infection in a Burn Care Centre.
Concerning the covering of the bum patient, C. Echinard (Lyons) described the state of the art in "Skin substitutes in the bum patient".
The fourth topic, "Artificial skin", was considered by A. Alonso Varona (UPV/EHU) in "Cell Cultures", V. Mirabet Lis and V. Mirabet Ippolito (Valencia) respectively in "Cell cultures - the present state of research" and in "Clinical applications of cutivated keratinocytes", and in conclusion F. Pousa Real (La Corufla) in "The organization of a regional skin bank".
On the last day the Symposium concentrated its attention on two topics of current interest: immunology, and the organization of medical assistance in the event of a catastrophe.
The first of these was dealt with by J. C. Herrero Martin (Valencia) in "Immunity and bums", by F. J. Gabilondo (Bilbao) in an interesting paper entitled "Homologous skin covering in the case of homozygous twins", and by C. Echinard (Lyons) in "Immunology problems in bums".
The second topic was considered by M. Masellis (Palermo), who presented a paper on "Disasters and the organization of assistance - the role of the Mediterranean Bums Club", and by A. Sutherland (Edinburgh), who spoke on "The role of the European Bums Society".
The Symposium had a high number of participants, the contributions and discussions were lively and intelligent, and the organization was perfect.

The Constitutive Assembly of the Spanish Bums Society was held during the course of the First International Symposium on the Prevention and Treatment of Bums (Bilbao, 13-16 February 1990). The Statute was approved in a meeting presided over by F. J. Gabilondo Zubizarreta M.D. with democratic mastery, and the directive Organs of the Society were elected:
Pres.: F. Martelo Yillar M.D. (La Corufia)
V. Pres.: M. Rodriguez Aguirre M.D. (Las Palmas)
Secretary: V. Garcia Torres M.D. (Madrid)
The MBC wishes the Spanish Burns Society every success in its work.

M. Masellis