Category: Conferences

Fistula Fiesta at WOW! Exploring Innovative Management Techniques for a Complex Challenge

Are you a dedicated healthcare professional seeking to expand your knowledge and skills in advanced wound care? Look no further! The Wild on Wounds (WOW) conference in Hollywood, Florida, is back with its impactful, hands-on wound care education. This year, the spotlight is on the "Fistula Fiesta" session - a unique opportunity to explore effective management techniques for the complex challenge of fistulas.

An Insightful Journey into Fistula Management

On September 16, 2023, the WOW conference will offer a comprehensive look into the management of fistulas. These challenging wounds can have a profound impact on both patients and their caregivers, making it crucial for healthcare professionals to stay informed about the latest advancements in treatment and care.

Unraveling the "Fistula Fiesta" Session

Designed specifically to address the complexities of fistulas, the "Fistula Fiesta" session will focus on the unique difficulties faced by patients and caregivers alike. Whether you're a nurse, a physical therapist, or an occupational therapist, this session will equip you with valuable insights and skills to effectively manage this intricate wound condition.

The Significance of Fistula Management

Fistulas pose significant challenges, often requiring a multidisciplinary approach to achieve the best outcomes for patients. Moreover, the psychological impact on patients and their families should not be underestimated. This session aims to illuminate the best practices in fistula management, empowering attendees to provide better care and support to their patients.

What You'll Learn

By attending the Fistula Fiesta session, you'll have the opportunity to achieve several key learning objectives, including:

  • Identifying three common types of fistulas that develop in patients.
  • Comparing different types of fistula management devices available on the market, allowing you to make informed choices tailored to your patients' unique needs.

Your Expert Guide - Emily Greenstein

Leading the Fistula Fiesta session is the experienced Emily Greenstein, APRN, CNP, CWON-AP, FACCWS, from Sanford Health in Fargo, ND. Emily's wealth of knowledge and expertise makes her the perfect guide to navigate the complexities of fistula management. With her board certifications in Wound and Ostomy Care and 14 years of experience, she is dedicated to advancing wound care practices and providing optimal patient outcomes.

Join the Fiesta, Enhance Your Expertise!

The Fistula Fiesta session at WOW promises to be an illuminating experience, providing you with valuable insights and skills to tackle the challenges of fistula management with confidence. Whether you're a seasoned healthcare professional or just starting your wound care journey, this session offers something for everyone.

Don't miss out on this enriching opportunity! Click here to learn more about the event and the Fistula Fiesta session.

How to Win the NSTI Battle at SAWC Spring 2022!

Attend the session Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection: How to Win the Battle to experience the largest and most challenging wounds at SAWC Spring.

Learn critical decision making processes for effective surgical and wound care of NSTI and Fournier's gangrene. Surgical debridement videos will demonstrate the latest methods for removing infected tissue while preserving critical structures. Cases will illustrate wound care techniques for patients with debridements of 1000's of square centimeters and application tips to VAC seemingly “unVACable” patients.

SAWC Spring 2022 is April 6-10.  Register here.

Enteric Fistula Management at WUWHS Conference

The upcoming World Union of Wound Healing Societies (WUWHS) conference will be a hybrid format with a virtual option alongside the physical program to accommodate all who would choose to join in that manner. The exciting WUWHS program includes multiple sessions on enteric fistulas and management of the open abdomen.

Dee Waugh will cover the topic of "Enterocutaneous/enteroatmospheric fistula management", Mr. Ibby Younis will be presenting "Abdominal wall reconstruction: a new way", and Hayat Alsaleh will speak on "Open abdomen with complex EC fistula".

The 2022 WUWHS Hybrid Congress is March 1-5.

Fistula Focus at the Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Conference

The upcoming Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Conference includes soft tissue and hernia repair topics and a pair of exciting enteric fistula presentations.  Dr. Robert Martindale from Oregon Health Sciences University will present "Focus on EC Fistula / Mesh Infection: Thoughts on the Staged Repair" and Mary Anne Obst, WOCN and Complex Abdomen Specialist at Regions Hospital, will present "EC Fistulas, Stomas, & Complex Wounds: A Nursing Perspective".

The 2022 Abdominal Wall Reconstruction virtual conference is June 8-11. Abstracts must be submitted by April 15, 2022.

Fistula Fun at Chicago WOCN Conference

The upcoming Professional Education Day of the Northern Illinois Affiliate of the Wound Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (NIAWOCN) includes a pair of exciting enteric fistula presentations.  Dr. Erik Borncamp, Medical Director for The Wound Center at Silver Cross Hospital, will present "Ostomy, Fistula and Open Abdomen".  He will discuss the pathophysiology of fistulas and the challenges in closing them.

Mary Anne Obst, Complex Abdomen Specialist for Regions Hospital, will close the conference with her "Fun with Fistulas" presentation.  She will cover assessment and classification of the enteric fistula patient, medical management and wound care principles.

The NIAWOCN's 23rd annual professional education day is October 13, 2021 from 7:00am-4:00pm CST at Bobak's Signature Events and Conference Center in Woodridge, Illinois.

Enteric Fistula Care: Looking Beneath the Surface to Be Successful at SAWC Spring

The Complex Abdominal Reconstruction (CARS) team at Regions Hospital will present Enteric Fistula Care: Looking Beneath the Surface to Be Successful  at SAWC Spring on May 14th.

The team will provide the anatomical, surgical, and effluent management knowledge required to care for enteric fistula and complex ostomy patients. Understanding the anatomy and structures around a fistula or ostomy through imaging and other techniques is necessary for the fistula team to develop long-term medical and surgical repair plans. With this deeper understanding the wound care provider can develop appropriate effluent containment and wound healing strategies for the patient. This session will cover basic to advanced care of enteric fistulas, discuss why interpretation of imaging studies is important to the wound provider, and review anatomy of a fistula and surgical techniques that may be used.

Fistulas, Stomas, and Complex Wounds at the Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Conference

The Advanced Concepts session at the upcoming Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Conference includes soft tissue and hernia repair topics and a pair of exciting enteric fistula presentations.  Mary Anne Obst, WOCN and Complex Abdomen Specialist at Regions Hospital, will present "EC Fistulas, Stomas, & Complex Wounds: A Nursing Perspective".   Mary Anne will be followed by Eric Pauli, MD from Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center who will present "Surgical Management of the EC Fistula Patient".

The Advanced Concepts session will conclude with a panel discussion including best practices in fistula management.

The 2021 Abdominal Wall Reconstruction conference has adapted to an invigorated online conference June 9-12.   Abstracts must be submitted by April 16, 2021.

New Technique to Protect Perineal Skin Grafts without a Diverting Ostomy at EAST Conference

David Dries, MD will present Massive Burns After Forge Explosion: New Technique to Protect Perineal Skin Grafts without a Diverting Ostomy at 4:06 PM EST on January 14th, 2021 during the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma's Annual Scientific Assembly – Virtual.

One of the difficult aspects of maintaining good wound healing and perineal wounds is fecal contamination. Diverting colostomy and ileostomy are treatment options along with administration of materials which affect bowel motility.

Dr. Dries will present a new technique using a fecal collection circuit combined with an isolation device to avoid redirection of the fecal stream with the associated additional operative procedures of colostomy and ileostomy formation.  This Master Class Surgical Video presentation will illustrate a step-by-step application of this technique through case-study pictures and illustrations.

High Output Session at Northeast Region WOCN Conference

Carol Rees Parrish MS, RDN will present High Output Ileostomy: Preventing Acute Kidney Injury at 3:00 PM EST on November 7th, 2020 during the Northeast Region of the WOCN's Virtual Conference.

Carol's presentation will help attendees:

  • Identify the clinical, psychological, and financial burdens patients with high output ileostomies face
  • Learn to systematically select and dose medications to decrease stool volume
  • Learn how to develop a plan to monitor new ileostomy patients after discharge

Carol's extensive knowledge around short bowel syndrome (SBS) will be beneficial to providers managing patients with high output fistulas or ileostomies.

Click here for conference and registration details.

Fistula Care Series at Northeast Region WOCN Conference

A 2-part series on fistula care will be presented November 7th and 8th during the 2020 Northeast Region of the WOCN's Virtual Conference.

The session Fistulas are a Pain in the… Expert Tips to Address Wound Challenges!Fistulas Are a Pain in the… Expert Tips to Address Wound Challenges! will be live-streamed on Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 2:00 PM EST.  Anyone - even those who are not registered for the conference - can attend using this link.

Then, on Sunday, November 8, 2020 the session From Hopeless to Healed: 3M Comprehensive Solutions for Fistula Patients will be presented live at 7:00 AM EST.  Similarly, anyone can use this link to attend, even if they have not registered for the conference.

Learning objectives for the series are to:

  • Discuss S.N.A.P (Skin/Sepsis, Nutrition, Anatomy, Procedure), the acronym to design a fistula management care pathway - Acute, Post-Acute and beyond!
  • Illustrate via cases, techniques tips and pearls on how to manage containment systems to prevent skin damage related to fistula effluent
  • Demonstrate negative pressure wound therapy to optimize wound management
  • Examine the role of planning, communication and technology to ease care transitions
  • Investigate and discuss gaps in current practice for managing skin preparation and injury related to fistula effluent spillage
  • Discuss challenges in skin care after increased mobility in post-acute settings

Click here for conference and registration details.