Sedona Days

Robert Stemmer established an Anti-Congress in Switzerland in the late 20th century. [Add Stemmer photo] His philosophy for the meeting was a small gathering of German-speaking venous and lymphatic specialists in Appenzell, Switzerland, [Add Appenzell photo] in a collegial atmosphere, to conduct at-length discussions concerning a variety of topics related to patients with venous and lymphatic disorders. He called it an “Anti-Congress” to distinguish it from the traditions medical congress in which many topics are presented to a large audience by experts and investigators in a very time-limited didactic session, with little to no time allotted for questions, comments, or discussion. In contrast, the “Anti-Congress” involves a much smaller group of both academic physicians and 

clinical practitioners during which a brief, introductory presentation of a topic is followed by an hour-long discussion by all attendees. The “Anti-Congress” takes place in a relaxed setting where individual and small-group interaction is fostered and encouraged to the benefit of everyone. The motto for these meetings became “on entering the conference room, leave your ego at the door”.

Following Professor Stemmer’s untimely death, Professor Hugo Partsch [Add Hugo alone photo] continued the annual programs until his retirement from active practice, whereupon Professor Eberhard Rabe took over. [Add photo of Eberhard]

Unlike traditional medical congresses in which many lectures are presented in a didactic manner, these unique “Anti-congresses” were designed to include mostly vigorous discussions with every participant on an equal footing. The moto for the meetings became “leave your ego at the door on your way in”.

Professor Partsch invited Nick Morrison, MD to attend Appenzell and then develop a similar meeting for North America. 

In 2007 the first North American “Anti-Congress” was held in Sedona, Arizona and named “Sedona Days”. The theme and philosophy from Appenzell were brought to the Desert Southwest of the U.S. 

Attendees were asked to prepare  clinical events on controversial topics.  They would have 5 minutes to present the pros and cons of the issue and the group would have 30 minutes to discuss it.  While not unlimited in time, discussions of each topic are in-depth because many in the audience may possess as much knowledge about a topic as the presenter. And socialization through at least one group outdoor activity and meals with guests is encouraged to foster even more discussion outside of the conference room

Medical meetings cost money.  All most all meeting depend on financial support from companies.  These companies depend on sales  to continue to fund the meetings.  Most medical meetings are cloaked in the advertisement and promotion of medical products and pharmaceuticals.  Because of this implied bias it is often difficult to separate the clinical data presented from the financial goals of the business entities.  To be fair, doctors and hospitals are business entities too, with financial incentives which can and do intertwine with clinical data, blurring objectivity.  We wanted something better.

All the sponsorship companies understand that support is not utilized like that of more traditional medical congresses, where promotion of products is key. At Sedona Days there are no industry booths, no industry presentations.  They have no input into the scientific program. Their support is used to promote top-quality scientific discussion among the leading minds in the field.  Their educational grant is used to offset typical costs of lodging, food and local transportation. Physician attendees are responsible for their own transportation to and from the venue and a modest registration fee.

The original Anti-Congress in Appenzell Switzerland was and continues to be solely sponsored by Sigvaris, the Swiss Compression Company. Sigvaris also sponsored the first few years of the US meeting, Sedona Days meeting. In 2012 Medi USA, the US compression company, took over exclusive sponsorship of Sedona Days, and in 2017, Medtronic also came on board as co-sponsor.

To promote a high level of intellectual dialogue attendance is limited and therefore by invitation only.

 TOPICS OF DISCUSSION

*Foam Sclerotherapy  *Venous Hemodynamics   *Phlebolymphedema

*Recurrent DVT   *Calf Vein Thrombosis    *Advanced Venous Duplex     

*Endovenous Thermal Ablation – Which parameters guarantee success?   *Treatment of DVT with Newer Agents  *Abnormal Perforator Veins – Diagnosis and Indications for Treatment  

*Chronic Iliofemoral Obstruction * What RCTs are Possible/Necessary in Phlebology * Pelvic Venous Insufficiency    *Compression after Different Phlebologic Interventions – What Is The

Evidence, * Foam Sclerotherapy – European Perspective * Pelvic Venous Insufficiency Beginnings of Categorization * Markers of Progressive Primary Venous Insufficiency * Compression Therapy in Mixed Vascular Ulcers *  Factor Xa Inhibitors and Their Role in Management of SVT  *Bonn (GmbH) Vein Study and Vein Consult Project  *Regressive Compression  *Recurrent Varicose Veins After a Decade of Endovenous Treatment – AreWe Doing Better?

*Cost-effective Analysis of Varicose Vein Treatment

*What is the Cause of Pain Associated with CVD?

*What is the Value of CT/MR Venography in Lower Extremity CVD

*Venous Hemodynamics of the Small Saphenous Vein – Is there Something Different?  *Indications for Venous Stenting Following Thrombolysis  *Is There a Role for Aspirin Following Spontaneous DVT      *What is the State of Venous Care in the U.S.? An Honest Assessment.

TOPICS OF DISCUSSION

*Popliteal Vein Compression Syndrome – Live Patient Examination

*Comparing Superficial Venous Ablation Methods  *Compression Following Venous Intervention – What is the Evidence?  *The Role of Inflammatory Mediators, Micro Particles, DNA, and Metabolic Products in Venous Thrombosis  *Stroke Following Endovenous Thermal Ablation with Foam Sclerotherapy  *The Swollen Limb

*The Future of Medical Informatics and What’s in it for me?

*Compression Dosage – How Do We Get the Information We Need

for Appropriate Treatment?   *Post-Procedural Symptoms Following Foam Sclerotherapy  *Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome Following Endovenous Thermal Ablation  *  Wound Fluid in Venous Ulcers

*Novel Agents – Safety and Reversal – A Work in Progress

*Distal DVT – What is the Difference in Treatment?

*Differential Diagnosis and Therapy Options of the lymph vs phlebedema In Patients with PTS, *Varithena – One Year Later

*Pressure Measurements with Adjustable Compression Wraps

*Society Leadership Development – How is it Best Accomplished?

*Overview of Venous Disease Treatment in Brazil  *Is Warfarin 

*Saphenofemoral Laser Shrinkage for Hemodynamic Effect

*Over-Treatment and Over-Diagnosis of Venous Reflux

*Are Reflux Volumes and Ambulatory Venous Pressure Valuable in Clinical Practice? * Klippel-Trenaunay – Patient Presentation

*Is Lipid-lowering Therapy an Independent Risk Factor for VTE? *Hemodynamic Paradox. Are Recurrent Varicose Veins Inevitable? *Treatment of Facial, Chest Wall, and Hand Veins  *Defining Potential Novel Cellular Targets for PTS  *Indications for Medical Compression Stockings in Venous and LymphaticDisorders – an Evidence-based Consensus Statement   *Genetic Cytokine Polymorphism in Russian Venous Patients

 TOPICS OF DISCUSSION

*Intermittent Pneumatic Compression for VTE Prevention

*VTE Prophylaxis for the Outpatient – Necessary or a Nuisance

*Pelvic Congestion Syndrome – What to Treat First, Iliac Vein Compression or Ovarian Vein Reflux?  *Should Compression be Prescribed After Ulcer Healing – If So, What Kind and How Long?

*Foam Sclerotherapy for Truncal Incompetence – Risk Factors for Failure   *Critical Analysis of Clinical Trials  *Post-thrombotic Risk Factors and Progression *Current Treatment and Use of Compression After Proximal DVT – Results of an International Questionnaire

*Investigating Venous Elasticity as a Biomarker in Lower Extremity Veins Using Shear-wave Elastography and Force-controlled Ultrasound  *Stenting for Pelvic Venous Disease – What is the Evidence in Young Patients with Isolated CPP *Compression Stiffness or Pressure Is the Key for Successful Outcomes?  *Should All Saphenous Recanalization be Treated?   *Compression for Lipedema?   *Deep Venous Thrombosis – Stop Stereotyping!

*Molecular Biology of VLU  *Microcirculation in CVI – Capillaroscopy

*Fibrovein PASS Foam Sclerotherapy Trial   *Topical Sevoflurane for VLU Debridement   *Importance of Glycocalyx in Lymphedema

*Deep Venous Stenting – Criteria for Intervention  *Mitochondria and Longevity Medicine  *Long-term Clinical Effectiveness of Endovenous Interventions for PVD – Debate   *Constitutional Lymphedema

*What Are We NOT Learning From Clinical Trials  *Vein Wall Remodeling  *Clinical Relevance of Ultra-high D-Dimer Levels

*Update on Data Since SOX Trial Publication  *Is Cyanoacrylate Ablation Cost-effective Compared to RFA?    *Three Reasons for Measuring Pressure Under Stockings and Bandages   *Duplex Patterns in Patients With VLU and Morbid Obesity

Pregnancy – DVT,   *Varicose Veins, and Implications of Iliac Vein Stenting  in Women of Child-bearing Age   *Lipedema Syndrome

*Venous Disease is a Skin Disorder Yet There is No High-quality Basic Science  *Research Being Conducted. What Can We Do Globally to Correct This?   *Management of Deep Venous Valvular Incompetence in Colombia  *Relationship Between Lower Leg Pigmentation and Perforator Incompetence   *Association of Calcium with Vascular Disease and Wounds

Can Deep Vein Stenting of a Left CIV Stenosis Improve Symptoms in theRight leg?   *Retrievable IVC Filters as Permanent Implant – Do Complications Justify Removal?   *Should Morbid Obesity be an Absolute Contraindication for any Venous 

Intervention and What is the Role of Weight Loss/Bariatric Surgery in

Venous Disease Management?