2020 Surgical Infection Olympics in Madrid

The 2020 Surgical Infection Olympics will be hosted by Madrid, Spain during the European Congress on Surgical Infections in September.

The Olympics and subsequent Surgical Infection Society Europe (SIS-E) conference will cover not only the recent aspects of known issues, but also new frontiers of surgical infections. Surgical researchers, surgical residents, nurses, infection control practitioners and surgeons are encouraged to participate in or contribute to the congress.

Conference themes include:

  • Management & closure of the open abdomen
  • Interactive cases on surgical infections
  • Global surgery symposium: Damage Control Surgery
  • Instillation therapy with negative pressure in the open abdomen
  • Reducing sepsis-related mortality

The 2020 SIS-E Olympics and conference will be September 2-4 at the Tryp Madrid Atocha Hotel in Madrid, Spain.

Visit the Surgical Infection Society Europe website for more information.

Nurse Discount for Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Conference

Discounted registration is available for nurses who want to attend the upcoming Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Conference.   Nurses can use the special promo code AWRN20 to receive $100 off registration fees.

MedStar Georgetown University Hospital’s 12th Annual Abdominal Wall Reconstruction (AWR) Conference is a comprehensive symposium providing an in-depth understanding of the complexity of AWR and repair techniques. Education includes abdominal wound management and alternative resources in abdominal wall reconstruction. This is a unique opportunity for attendees to network with colleagues in their field and interact with expert faculty. The agenda includes:

  • Live lectures, presentations, panel discussions and interactive Q&A sessions
  • Poster abstract authors’ session
  • Multiple symposia
  • Gloves-on cadaver workshop

The 2020 conference will be June 4-6 at the Mandarin Oriental in Washington D.C. Visit the AWR website to see the full conference agenda.

Hernia Surgery Summit in March

Columbia Comprehensive Hernia Center's 11th Annual Hernia Surgery Summit is focused on reconstruction of abdominal wall defects, which remains one of the most challenging dilemmas facing surgeons. Even though ventral hernia repair remains one of the most common procedures performed, there is little consensus as to the best surgical technique, prosthetic material of choice, or strategies to repair complex defects.

Learning objectives include:

  • Minimally Invasive Hernia Repairs
  • Robotic Hernia Repairs
  • Complex open abdominal wall reconstruction techniques
    • Open (traditional) component separation
    • Laparoscopic and periumbilical sparing component separation
    • Posterior component separation and transversus abdominis release (TAR)
    • Laparoscopic and Robotic Totally Extraperitoneal Retromuscular Repairs
  • Para-stomal and other difficult hernia repairs
  • Reconstructions in setting infection, contamination, enterocutaneous fistulas, loss of abdominal domain
  • Umbilical and inguinal hernia repairs
  • Comprehensive review of groin repairs and groin pain management
  • Plastic surgery considerations for difficult soft tissue scenarios

The 2020 conference will be March 5-7 at the The Cliff Lodge in Snowbird, Utah.  Visit the Hernia Surgery Summit website to see the full conference agenda.

Advanced Fistula Concepts 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 2020 Abdominal Wall Reconstruction conference will be June 4-6 at the Mandarin Oriental in Washington D.C. Visit the AWR website to see the full conference agenda.

Fistula Management Team at SAWC Spring 2020

It takes a village to care for fistula patients.

Experience a multidisciplinary team approach to fistula management at SAWC Spring.

Mary Anne Obst and Kristen Lindvall from the Complex Abdominal Reconstruction (CARS) team at Regions Hospital will present Team Management of Enteroatmospheric Fistulas.  They will share the CARS methodology for fistula patient care during the 6 to 18 month wait time before definitive surgical treatment.  They will cover wound care, nutritional support, psychosocial counsel, medical management, and surgical planning.

Sanford Wound & Ostomy Care Conference: Advance Wound Care

Sanford Health's biennial Wound & Ostomy Care Conference is December 6, 2019 in Fargo, North Dakota. The purpose of the symposium is to increase the knowledge and competence of health care professionals related to evidence-based wound prevention and treatment, and ostomy management. The target audience includes nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, and other interested health care professionals.

Mary Anne Obst, Complex Abdomen Specialist at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota will present on ostomy containment and fistula and wound management while preserving peri-wound skin.  She will also present a team approach to managing complex abdominal wounds and fistulas.

Click here for more information.

SAWC Fall 2019: Ask a Surgeon about Fistula and Ostomy Management

Ever wish you could ask a surgeon a question about a fistula or ostomy?  Here is your chance! For example, why is this stoma flat? Can you help with this sidewall fistula? Why do we need to wait so long to repair a fistula?

Send your questions or cases for Dr. David Dries’ perspective on solutions.  Selected questions and cases will be reviewed during the “Ask a Surgeon” portion of Session 13 - Fistula and Ostomy Management for the Wound Provider at the SAWC Fall conference on October 12th.

Oregon Seminar: Complex Abdominal Wounds and Fistula Nightmares

Mary Anne Obst will present "Complex Abdominal Wounds and Fistula Nightmares: Tricks and Tips" October 19th in Medford, Oregon.  The seminar is at the Advanced Wound Care Conference of the Northwest Region of the WOCN.

Mary Anne is a Complex Abdomen Specialist at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota.  She will teach participants various approaches to promote quality of life while targeting surgical repair when applicable. She will also share unique methods for managing complex abdominal wounds and enterocutaneous fistulas.

Click here for conference information.

Washington D.C. Symposium: Innovative Options for Complex Wounds and Fistula Management

KCI An Acelity Company is sponsoring a breakfast symposium focusing on: “New Advances in Challenging Wound Care: Examining the Evidence and Discussing the Cases” at the Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Conference in Washington D.C. on June 8th. The session features presentations on new therapies from Vedra Augenstein, MD, Luis Fernandez, MD, and Mary Anne Obst, RN.

This presentation begins at 8:30 AM on June 8th at the Grand Hyatt Washington.

Register for this event at www.awrconference.com.

Florida Enteric Fistula Management Hands-on Workshop

Kersten Reider BSN, RN, CWOCN, will be conducting a hands-on enteric fistula management workshop at the 2019 Florida Association of Enterostomal Therapists Conference in Gainsville, Florida. The workshop begins at 4:30 PM on Friday, May 31st in the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center.

Reider notes, “Enteroatmospheric fistulas (EAF) are common complications of open abdomen bowel surgery. An EAF is a devastating complication for both surgeon, clinical provider, and patient. Prior to the advent of sophisticated treatment plans, EAF’s held a large mortality rate. Traditionally, management of EAFs had involved placing large fistula management pouches over the wound to collect and contain effluent. However, at FAET we will be demonstrating more current techniques to isolate and heal fistulas.”.

Kersten is a Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurse with Tower Health System in West Reading, Pennsylvania. She has extensive experience in managing enteric fistulas and using Fistula Solution devices. Her workshop will teach you new ways to address your fistula challenges.

Visit the FAET website to see the full conference agenda.

2018 FAET Enteric Fistula Workshop