Thank you to all the entries! We have received an incredible variety of submissions for both physical and digital posters, showcasing new original research, intriguing case reports, or thought-provoking topic discussions related to any area of Extreme Medicine.

The posters were judged by:

• Jeremy Windsor: Consultant Anaesthetist, Director of the Centre for Mountain Medicine at the University of Central Lancashire.
• Shawna Pandya: Aeromedical Flight Physician, Aquanaut and Member of the International Astronautical Federation’s Human Spaceflight Committee.
• Will Duffin: GP, Doctor for US TV Show ’Survivor’ and Joint Medical Director at World Extreme Medicine

The judging criteria was based on clarity, originality, relevance, impact and referencing.

Here are the winners, runners-up and all other entries⤵

COOLFLY – Countermeasure Against Cardiovascular Instability in Changing G-Forces | Renana Bruckstein et al.

Renana Bruckstein investigated peripheral cooling as a potential countermeasure during human spaceflight acceleration at the Coolfly Center for Space Medicine and Extreme Environments.

Through parabolic flight experiments with 15 subjects, she demonstrated that cooling effectively reduced changes in perfusion and blood pressure, with cooled subjects showing an 11mmHg smaller drop in blood pressure compared to the control group.

This elegant study opens new avenues for managing physiological stress during space travel and provides compelling evidence for peripheral cooling as an effective intervention in extreme environments.

This research has significant implications for future spaceflight protocols and how space agencies approach physiological protection during acceleration. The panel was particularly impressed by the innovative approach to a critical spaceflight challenge and the clear demonstration of measurable benefits.

While the absence of references was noted, the study’s methodological strength, clear presentation, and compelling findings made it stand out from other submissions. The practical applications of this work in both space medicine and other extreme environments, combined with its elegant experimental design and clear results, made it the clear winner for this years poster competition.

Congratulations, Renana! We will be in touch shortly with a code for you to join WEM25 for free!

Anesthesia Mission in Tamale | Adrian Bencat, Nela Pelankova & Dagmar Seidlova

Adrian Bencat et al presented a compelling case report from a resource-limited setting, following a 36-year-old female patient who underwent myomectomy for adenomyosis.

The case highlighted critical challenges in surgical care, particularly in the context of pre-existing anemia (haemoglobin 86) common in African populations. The patient’s complex post-operative course, including arrhythmia, ST elevation, and cardiac arrest requiring ICU intervention, was complicated by a ordered but unadministered blood transfusion.

This case earned third place by effectively illustrating the cascading effects of systemic healthcare challenges in resource-poor settings.

While the panel noted that the presentation could have been more refined and the lack of literature references was a limitation, the case’s valuable learning points about anticipating surgical complications in historically anemic populations made it particularly relevant to extreme medicine.

The study serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of thorough preoperative planning and vigilant post-operative care in challenging healthcare environments.

Congratulations! Head over to our merch stall to grab your prize!