113 This system of monitoring might be improved further if all cases in this category were investigated jointly by a forensic pathologist and an anaesthesiologist at the very outset of the investigation and during the actual autopsy. Free Papers The Influence of Pancuronium on Primary Conjugated Bile Acids A. Fassoulaki, T. Mihas, A. Mihas and P. Kaniaris Experimental studies have been reported in which a prolonged action of steroid neuro- muscular blocking agents followed bile acids administration(1, 2). A prolonged neuro- muscular action of pancuronium has also been detected in patients with biliary obstruc- tion(3). In the present study serum bile acids and intracellular liver enzymes were estimated after anaesthesia in which pancuronium was used as a muscle relaxant (Fig. 1). An at- tempt is made to investigate the effect of pancuronium on bile acid levels. Material and Methods Twelve female patients aged between 40 and 50 years were studied. All of them were visited in the ward the night before the operation by the anaesthesiologist where their clinical condition was assessed and their consent was obtained to participate in the pre- sent study. None of them had a history of hepatic disease or was taking drugs. The oper- ation performed in all cases was modified radical mastectomy and intracellular liver en- zymes are routinely determined in these patients preoperatively. The twelve patients were reassured and stated that they did not want to have any tranquillizer for premedi- cation.

The VIth World Congress of Anaesthesiology, held in Mexico City in 1976, offered several European participants the opportunity of discovering their community of views. The idea was then launched of establishing a forum for regular exchanges among academic anaesthetists from Europe. After many preliminary discussions, some thirty delegates or observers from the Societies of Anaes thesia of Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, German Federal Re public, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Yugoslavia met in Paris on 12 March 1977. They agreed to found a European Academy of Anaesthesiology. After a second meeting in Dublin, the Academy was officially created by a general assembly in Paris on 5 Septem ber 1978. Election of members took place for the first time on that date. Since then, the Academy has been functioning regular ly. Its membership presently stands at 180 from 26 European countries. Associate members will be elected for the first time this year. The total number of full members is limited by the statutes to five hundred. The Academy also has two other categories of members: hon orary and patrons. Five honorary members have so far been elec ted: Mrs. N. du Bouchet (France), Mr. H. Killian (German Federal Republic), Sir Robert Macintosh, Prof. W. W. Mushin (United King dom) and Dr. E. M. Papper (United States)."