Episode 56: February 5, 2020 - Understanding Thyroid Eye Disease and Treatment Options

Do you know TED?

Sponsor: Horizon Therapeutics is a bio pharmaceutical company that is driven to deliver breakthrough medicines to patients because Horizon understands the challenges they face.

Sara Tullis Wester, MD

Assistant Clinical Professor, University of Miami, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

Sara Tullis Wester, MD, is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Miami, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. She completed her undergraduate training at Dartmouth College and worked in investment banking at Goldman Sachs & Co., prior to returning to medical school. Her medical degree is from Harvard Medical School. She is a board-certified ophthalmologist with subspecialty training in Oculofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Orbital Surgery and Oncology in an American Society for Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery accredited program. She specializes in reconstructive and cosmetic surgery of the eyelids. Her research focus is on adipose stem cells and their application in the treatment of inflammatory disease, as well as reconstructive and cosmetic surgery. Her other research interests include laser treatment of surgical and traumatic scars. She has authored several chapters on stem cells in ophthalmology and multiple peer reviewed journal articles. Dr. Wester serves as a reviewer for OPRS, Clinical Ophthalmology, and LIMS. She has received numerous awards, including the 2013 Leading Physicians of the World Top Ophthalmologists in Miami, Fl. She is a member of ASOPRS, AAO, FSO, ASLMS, WIO and NASBS. She practices in Miami, Fl and Plantation, FL at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.

Mary Alexander, MA, RN, CRNI®, CAE, FAAN

Chief Executive Officer

Infusion Nurses Society (INS)

Mary Alexander, MA, RN, CRNI®, CAE, FAAN, has served as CEO of the Infusion Nurses Society (INS) and Infusion Nurses Certification Corporation, since 1997. She is also editor-in-chief of the Journal of Infusion Nursing, the Core Curriculum for Infusion Nursing, and INS’ textbook, Infusion Nursing: An Evidence-Based Approach. In addition, Mary represented INS on the panel that revised the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guidelines for the Prevention of Intravascular Catheter-Related Infections, in 2011. She speaks globally on topics such as the benefits of the specialty practice of infusion nursing, the development of standards of practice, and improving patient safety.

Host: Dawn Berndt, DNP, RN, CRNI® – INS Clinical Education & Publications Manager

Guests:

• Sara Tullis Wester, MD - Assistant Clinical Professor, University of Miami, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
• Mary Alexander, MA, RN, CRNI®, CAE, FAAN – Infusion Nurses Society Chief Executive Officer

Sponsor: Horizon Therapeutics is a bio pharmaceutical company that is driven to deliver breakthrough medicines to patients because Horizon understands the challenges they face.

Thyroid Eye Disease and Treatment Options
Dr. Sara Wester, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, University of Miami, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, shares her expertise in this discussion on thyroid eye disease. She describes the risk factors, incidence, signs and symptoms, as well as treatments for this disease.

Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) is a serious progressive, debilitating autoimmune disease with a limited window, of active disease during which it may respond to pharmacologic intervention. While TED often occurs in people living with hyperthyroidism or Graves’ disease, it is a distinct disease that is caused by autoantibodies activating an IGF-1R-mediated signaling complex on cells within the orbit. This leads to a cascade of negative effects, which cause long-term, irreversible damage. Active TED lasts for up to three years and is characterized by inflammation and tissue expansion behind the eye. As TED progresses, it causes serious damage – including proptosis (eye bulging), strabismus (misalignment of the eyes), and diplopia (double vision) – and in some cases can lead to blindness. People living with TED often experience long-term functional, psychological and economic burdens, including inability to work and perform activities of daily living. (Horizon Therapeutics)

INSide INS with Mary Alexander, INS CEO
Join Mary Alexander, MA, RN, CRNI®, Chief Executive Officer of the Infusion Nurses Society, as she discusses INS member recognition and scholarship programs, upcoming opportunities for INS membership involvement, and the INS 2020 annual conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Dear IVy Answers Your Clinical Questions.
This week, Dear IVy tackles this clinical question:
Dear IVy,
Why do we have to cleanse the needleless connector between each separate syringe access, when administering medication in a PICC, using the SASH technique? My nurse colleagues and I hold the needleless connector in such a way that it does not touch anything as we pick up each syringe and attach and detach throughout the process. It seems so cumbersome to stop the process, re-cleanse the needleless connector (that we believe has been maintained in aseptic condition), before attaching the next syringe. Are you certain we must continue to cleanse the needleless connector between each access?
Signed,
Too many “scrub the hubs” for SASH

Resources:
• Horizon Therapeutics: https://www.horizontherapeutic...
• New infusion therapy approved for thyroid eye disease: https://ir.horizontherapeutics...
• INS Gardner Foundation Scholarship Application: https://images.magnetmail.net/...
• INS Awards and Recognition: https://www.ins1.org/membershi...