The aim of the conference is to provide an update on the latest issues in acute pain and persistent pain after surgery. Day 1 will cover some of the latest controversies in acute pain management including use of epidurals, and psychological approaches, as well as covering the development of acute pain teams and reviewing the evidence for best acute pain practice. Day 2 will concentrate on the problem of persistent pain after surgery. The causes of this problem, the latest preventative strategies and treatments will be presented.