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I hate mornings, but we got a reprieve this year. The network breakfast started at 7 AM instead of 6. But here is the irony. I think we will have to go back to 6 next year. There just was not enough time for everyone to speak. After years of no growth, the number of networks active and in formation has just exploded. Many people had questions and were given lots of good suggestions from the more experienced networks who have “been there, done that”. But there were many we didn’t get to. I am guessing there were 150 people present and the time just flew by.

The first general session of the meeting had a mile long title but was about how to determine where the caval atrial junction is when viewing a radiograph. I (and many I spoke with) thought this was the hands down, best presentation on this subject ever. It was succinct and simple. Yet it was fully supported with CT imaging and high quality images to show why the presenters were using the landmarks they were and why others might not be as accurate. It made precise tip location determination so much easier. Jamie Bowen Santolucito and Peter Verhey did a fabulous job.

The second general session was just as amazing. We had two physicians do a point and counter point discussion on SVC vs. RA tip placement. In this type of presentation, the presenters take opposite sides of a topic and present…much like a court room format vs. a debate format. They present a “purposely biased” talk. The idea is to bring out the full spectrum of the arguments and give the audience much more information with which to make informed decisions than listening to a one-sided presentation. David Hunter and Tom Vesely both did a great job. I have never seen Tom so animated and colorful. They both couldn’t say enough about how much they respected the other professionally. Tom and rest of us got a kick out of David using one of Tom’s own published articles against him. There was a lot of information presented in a very short time but it was easy to grasp and digest. Whew, what a start to the day!

Then we got to the Suzanne LaVere Herbst Award. This is a very prestigious award given annually to a single person whose contribution to our profession has lead to a higher standard of excellence in vascular access. The award is made possible through a grant from Genentech. This year’s recipient was Jamie Bowen Santolucito, RN, CRNI. Many of her co-workers were on hand to support her. After a tearful thank you to many of her supporters, she pressed on and presented “The Expanding Role of PICCs in the Treatment of the Critically-Ill”. Once she got started on the topic, the tears dried up and she was all business. She emphasized that for two years now PICCs have taken a bashing over the question of infection rates. Maybe this debate has over shadowed the other advantages of PICCs, such as no pneumo, low cost, low air embolism risk and no vessel perforations on insertion, among others. These other considerations, she argued, makes the PICC a clear choice over other CVCs in the appropriate populations. Jamie most likely feels humbled by her award and thinks certainly there are others more deserving, but the fact is, she is deserving, was selected by a committee of experts in vascular access, and she is one great practitioner. Congratulations!

Now, after an amazing start to our day we were off to the exhibit hall. The downside is today I spent most of my time in my company’s booth, so I didn’t get to see much. Healix is a corporate member of AVA. If your company or institution is not, I would encourage you to push for corporate membership. It took me two years of pushing. It is not expensive and it shows your company or institution values the contributions of AVA in the field, as well as the resources provided, and allows AVA to continue its mission.

I did get to talk to a lot of attendees and everyone is certainly having a great time. Over all, it was calmer in the exhibit hall today. People had completed their mad dash overview yesterday and were returning to vendors that they had a particular interest in. They were having in-depth discussions and some serious negotiations were going on all over. I just love the free exchange of ideas and information (networking) that goes on at these meetings. Having the tools and toys of our profession in one place and packing it with the combined knowledge of the world’s best practitioners and turning on the blender so we can all share and experience, is just too cool for words.

The afternoon was the Exhibitor Theater Sessions. All the major vendors sponsored presentations. Again, I could not cover them all but my co-workers reports were all good. I will mention one thing about one session. It was to be co-presented, but we were informed that one presenter did not make it to the conference. It seems the pilot on his flight announced they had a fire onboard the plane. Forcing them to make an emergency, and therefore immediate landing. No one was injured but, due to the delays, the poor fella didn’t make it to the conference. Go figure, LOL. But very glad it was a happy ending.

My evening was devoted to co-workers as we went out and laid waste to a local Mexican restaurant. The food was good and the company of friends even better. But I missed the Exhibitor Symposium, Meet the Experts; Learn to Limit PICC Complications which was sponsored by AngioDynamics. I have no doubt it was a high quality presentation and some good food. Perhaps I will hear about it tomorrow.

Before closing, I wanted to say thanks to Cathflo for their sponsorship of the internet stations, allowing many without laptops to keep in touch with work and family. In addition, they were responsible for the nice padfolios we received in our registration packages. Our tote bags were generously provided by Cardinal Health. AngioDynamics has provided the morning caffeine jolts with the morning coffee breaks. Badge holders were from Baxter. In short, the many sponsors have put a lot into this meeting. Please visit or call the vendors and sponsors, thank them and, when possible, reward them with your business.

Good night my friends. Talk at ya tomorrow.

Tony West, RN, CRNI

Healix Infusion Services