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.

Discount for SAWC 2020 Virtual Conference

Discounted registration is available for the upcoming SAWC 2020 Virtual Conference. Use the code: FACULTY50 to receive $50 off your registration.

The Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC) / Wound Healing Society (WHS) virtual conference is July 24-26, 2020. From the comfort of your home access live Q&A, e-Posters, a virtual exhibit hall and the latest updates in wound care research and education.

The multi-track agenda includes the session Team Management of Enteroatmospheric Fistulas July 26th at 3:40 PM EDT.  Engage and ask questions from the comfort of your home to gain practical applications and insight on enteric fistula management.

AAST Webinar on Entero-cutaneous and Entero-atmospheric Fistulas

The webinar Entero-cutaneous and entero-atmospheric fistulas: Have we had a paradigm shift in management? is now available online.

Dr. Richard Miller, Chief, Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care at Vanderbilt Medical Center presents a comprehensive overview of enteric fistula management and makes a strong case for "feeding the gut".

The webinar is part of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Virtual Grand Rounds educational program.

Click here to watch.

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.

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.

Belted Pouching with Fistula Solution Devices

A high-output enterocutaneous fistula or ostomy may produce two to seven liters of effluent per day which can be devastating to the skin and can cause pain, infection and emotional isolation.

Using a belted ostomy pouch with Fistula Solution devices can be a good effluent management option, particularly when:

  • The perifistula topography of a patients body, creases, or scars make adhesive pouching difficult, or
  • Ostomy pouches will not adhere to excoriated and weeping peristomal skin.

In these cases intestinal effluent can cause further irritation and wound formation of perifistula skin.  To seal and protect the skin from effluent, Fistula Solution devices can be compressed around the patient’s enteric fistula or ostomy with a belted pouching system.

The following "how-to" steps illustrate the use of the Fistula Funnel in these challenging situations.

belt 1

1. Tailor the Fistula Funnel by cutting along the exterior scribe line to form a skirt. The skirt will help form a good seal around the fistula or ostomy and protect the surrounding skin from effluent.

Scribe line

2. Check the fit of the tailored Fistula Funnel to ensure it will seal when compressed to the surface of the body.

The visible portion of the compression area is indicated by the yellow shape.

belt 3

3. Center fistula or stoma in opening and compress the device.  The fistula or stoma should be visible through the device opening after placement on the patient.

belt 2

4. Apply a belted ostomy pouch appliance to compress the device to seal and protect skin and capture intestinal effluent.

belt 4

This technique can be used to protect the skin from effluent and enable healing when other methods may not work and can dramatically improve quality of life for the patient.

Virtual Grand Round – Entero-cutaneous and entero-atmospheric fistulas: Have we had a paradigm shift in management?

The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma is hosting the virtual grand round: Entero-cutaneous and entero-atmospheric fistulas: Have we had a paradigm shift in management?  The live broadcast is November 20, 2019 at 5:00 PM Eastern.

Dr. Richard Miller, Chief, Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care at Vanderbilt Medical Center will be presenting.

Click here for more information.

Free Webinar on Comprehensive Management of Digestive Tract Fistulas

Mary Anne Obst, RN, CWON, CCRN, presents in this free recorded webinar that will increase your knowledge of enteric fistulas and their management. This informative program will give you practical insights into assessing the patient with an enteric fistula.  Mary Anne will also cover the medical, surgical, and wound care strategies that can help optimize patient outcomes.

Click here to view the webinar.

Sharing her clinical expertise as a complex abdomen specialist, Ms. Obst will outline the risk factors associated with enteric fistulas and the preventive measures that may help reduce complications.  Critical factors for successful fistula management and closure will be covered.  Mary Anne will also discuss specific wound care principles and the application of the "pinch test" as the gateway to surgical readiness.

Challenging Scenarios and Fistulas at the AWR Conference

The Challenging Scenarios session at the upcoming Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Conference includes hernia repair topics and a pair of exciting enteric fistula presentations. B. Todd Heniford, MD from Carolinas Medical Center Department of Surgery will present "Mesh Infection and Fistula: Surgical Management and Long-term Outcomes". Dr. Heniford will be followed by Mary Anne Obst, WOCN and Complex Abdomen Specialist at Regions Hospital, who will share "Enterocutaneous Fistula: Best Practices for Wound Management".

The presentations will be followed by questions and panel discussion including best practices in fistula management.

The 2019 Abdominal Wall Reconstruction conference will be June 6-8 at the Grand Hyatt in Washington D.C. Visit the AWR website to see the full conference agenda.