Short practical sessions

Short Practical Vascular Access Sessions

During the congress, WoCoVA will organise five short practical sessions on different vascular access related topics. These sessions will last 2 hours and will be given by world experts in the field. There are only 8 places per session. See below for more information on the different subject available. You can only subscribe for a session if you have registered for the 9th WoCoVA. During the registration for the congress you can also register for a short practical session. The cost to participate for a single session are 150 Euro.

Wednesday, from 12:00 to 14:00
Session 1 – PICC-ports
Evan Alexandrou and Fulvio Pinelli

PICC-ports are a new-generation arm ports, inserted using the same techniques currently adopted for PICC insertion (ultrasound guided venipuncture of deep vein of the arm, ultrasound-based tip navigation, tip location by ultrasound or by intracavitary ECG).
This practical session will include two hands-on skill stations:

  • Choice of the site of venipuncture, of the site for implantation of the reservoir, and of the dimensions of the reservoir, using the RaPeVA protocol and the ZIM protocol (on volunteers)
  • Implantation of the reservoir and closure of the skin incision with intradermal sutures and cyanoacrylate glue (on simulators)

Session 2 – Femoral access for peripheral VADs, central VADs and ports
Maria Giuseppina Annetta and Stefano Elli

The clinical practice of femoral access has changed in the last few years, with the introduction of new venous approaches (superficial femoral vein) and new methods of tip location (ultrasound).
This practical session will address these novelties in two hands-on skill stations:

  • Ultrasound-based evaluation of the veins of the lower limb according to the RaFeVA protocol, and choice of the most appropriate exit site according to the RAVESTO protocol (on volunteers)
  • Ultrasound-based location of the tip of femoral catheters, using the trans-hepatic and subcostal views, according to the revised ECHOTIP protocol (on volunteers)

Thursday, from 11:00 to 13:00

Session 3 – Tunneling: indications and techniques
Gloria Ortiz Miluy and Matthew Ostroff

The technique of tunneling has rapidly spread into clinical practice, not only for cuffed catheters but also for non-cuffed PICCs, CICCs, FICCs, totally implanted VADs and peripheral VADs.
This practical session will include two hands-on skill stations:

  • Differentiation between puncture site and exit site, with examples of different tunneling options, according to the RAVESTO protocol (on volunteers)
  • Different techniques of tunneling using different tools (on simulators)

Session 4 – Ultrasound-based tip location with bubble test
Antonio Gidaro and Mauro Pittiruti

Though the current gold standard of tip location is intracavitary ECG, many studies of the last decade have shown the feasibility and accuracy of ultrasound-based tip location, using trans-thoracic echocardiography with bubble test.
This practical session will include two hands-on skill stations:

  • Ultrasound-based location of the tip of FICCs and FICC-ports, using the trans-hepatic and subcostal views, according to the revised ECHOTIP protocol (on volunteers)
  • Ultrasound-based location of the tip of PICC, PICC-ports, CICCs, and chest ports, using the subcostal views and the apical view, according to the revised ECHOTIP protocol (on volunteers)

Friday, from 11:00 to 13:00

Session 5 – Ultrasound evaluation of deep veins: RaCeVA, RaPeVA, RaFeVA
Fabrizio Brescia and Timothy Spencer

Pre-procedural ultrasound evaluation of the deep veins is highly recommended by all current international guidelines, as a strategy that optimizes the choice of the site of venipuncture before any central venous catheterization.
This practical session will include two hands-on skill stations:

  • Ultrasound evaluation of the deep veins of the supra/infraclavicular area and detection of the presence of pneumothorax before insertion of CICC and chest-ports, according to the RaCeVA protocol (on volunteers)
  • Ultrasound evaluation of the deep veins of the upper limbs (before insertion of PICCs and PICC-ports) and of the lower limbs (before insertion of FICCs and FICC-ports), according to the RaPeVA and RaFeVA protocols (on volunteers)