The 8th World Congress saw the presentation of several late-breaking findings, such as the role of insulin in reducing mortality, and technologies such as vital microscopy. There were heated debates for and against the role of gastric tonometry, enteral nutrition, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, the question of 'closed' or 'open' intensive care units, and several others. The overall message was the need to study outcomes and practise intensive care in a sensitive and humane fashion.