15/04/2026
Day 1 – WoCoVA 2026 | Valencia, Spain 🇪🇸
An early start to an incredible first day, with parallel sessions forcing some tough choices right from the beginning. I opted for the tunneling session, and it did not disappoint.
We kicked off with Davide Giustivi (Italy), who unpacked the decision-making around cuffed vs non-cuffed catheters. A key takeaway was how the growing availability of subcutaneous anchoring devices may shift practice in the future — potentially allowing tunneled non-cuffed catheters to remain in situ for extended periods, even in patients requiring long-term or permanent dialysis access.
Next up, Matthew Ostroff (USA) delivered a high-impact session on the indications for tunneling central vascular access devices, including PICC line tunneling and its practical application. Having had exposure to tunneling techniques during my training in Florence last year — and applying some of those concepts back home in South Africa — it was valuable to see how adaptable and relevant these techniques are, especially in resource-limited settings. Tunneling away from surgical sites to reduce infection risk is clearly something we should be doing more of.
The session led by Sergio Bertoglio (Italy) on PICC ports in oncology patients was another highlight. In Italy, arm ports (PICC ports) are widely used, and the data presented consistently shows:
- Similar infection and bleeding risks compared to chest ports
- No risk of pneumothorax, hemothorax, or major vessel injury
Patient involvement in choosing between an arm port and chest port also stood out as a key factor in improving outcomes. Having completed my training in Florence under Dr Pinelli, it was great to see these techniques reinforced — and rewarding to reflect on successful PICC port placements back in South Africa, including recent cases at Groote Schuur Hospital for breast cancer patients who preferred to avoid chest ports.
We also explored FICC ports and femorally inserted PICCs, with growing evidence suggesting these approaches could be considered first-line options, rather than only being used when no other options are available.
A standout moment was listening to Mauro Pittiruti, who reminded us of the importance of critically appraising literature properly — not just reading articles, but truly understanding how to interpret and apply them in practice.
A packed first day filled with practical insights, innovation, and plenty to take back home. Looking forward to what Day 2 brings.
WoCoVA 2026
