As Hippocrates once said—a sad and unfortunate truism—"He who wants to learn the art of surgery must go to war." And that's essentially what the Guinea Pig Club represented. I'm Professor David Muckart from South Africa, and my lecture focused on the Guinea Pig Club, a remarkable group of injured aircrew from World War II, many of whom were fighter pilots who sustained severe burns during combat. At that time, medical and surgical teams had no real experience or understanding of how to treat such devastating injuries. So they explained to the injured airmen, frankly: "We're going to have to experiment." In response, the aircrew humorously but poignantly said, "Well, if we're the ones being experimented on, then we're the guinea pigs." Hence, the Guinea Pig Club was born—a powerful symbol of both medical innovation and the human spirit in the face of adversity. This congress is critically important. Fluid management remains one of the most debated and controversial topics in intensive care. Even among the most experienced intensivists, there are divergent views—and that's exactly why gatherings like this are essential. We need to come together, share knowledge, and work toward a consensus on what's truly best for our patients. It's also inspiring to see so many young professionals attending. They are the future of intensive care, and their enthusiasm and engagement are vital for advancing our field. As for me—well, I'm hoping not to be around in intensive care for too much longer! But it's reassuring to know the next generation is stepping up with such passion and curiosity.

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