ICU Nutrition–Treatment and Problem Solving (LLL Live Module Topic 18)
(Saturday 25th November 2017)

Faculty for the day

The faculty included Dr. Orla Crosbie (Chair of IrSPEN’s Education Committee; Consultant Gastroenterologist; Chair/Moderator; TLLL certified), Dr. Alan Gaffney (Consultant Anaesthetist), Dr. Seosamh O’Riain (Consultant Anaesthetist), Ms. Aine Kelly (Senior Dietitian in ICU) and Ms. Carmel O’Hanlon (TLLL certified; Clinical Specialist Dietitian). The faculty was ably assisted by: Ms. Fiona Rafferty (IrSPEN Education Committee) and Ms. Martina Smyth (IrSPEN Administrator).

Overview of the day

This programme was run by IrSPEN (Irish Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism) in association with RCPI (Royal College of Physician of Ireland) and in accordance with ESPEN LLL guidance. The course took place in RCPI Kildare Street, Dublin, on the morning of the 25^th November 2017. Topics covered included:

• Energy and protein target: how to prevent underfeeding, overfeeding and refeeding syndrome.
• More than choosing a route: enteral and parenteral nutrition.
• Repletion, supplementation and pharmaco-nutrition.
• Clinical priorities for solving complex ICU patent problems.

After the four modules, there was an interactive case discussion, followed by a test quiz. A total of 26 participants took part in the day. Of these, 5 were dietitians and the remaining 21 were medical doctors – mainly Gastroenterology Specialist Registrars. All participants took the test and 96% passed. Each participant who passed the test was eligible for 3 LLL CME credits (once LLL username was provided) and a Course Certificate. All doctors who attended also received RCPI CME credits.

Feedback

The course was very well received. Twenty one participants completed evaluation forms. All 21 were very positive about their experiences. Overall quality was considered to be excellent by 77% of respondents and very good by 22%. Participants enjoyed the course and found it ‘very educational and relevant’ with ‘excellent speakers’ and ‘great topics’.

Nutrition in the Older Adult (LLL Live Module Topic 36)
(Saturday 26th November 2016)

Faculty for the day

The faculty included Professor Remy Meier (ESPEN LLL Director), Dr. Orla Crosbie (Chair of IrSPEN’s Education Committee and Consultant Gastroenterologist), Dr. David Robinson (Consultant Geriatrician), Associate Professor Clare Corish (UCD), and Ms. Carmel O’Hanlon (Course Moderator and TLLL certified). The faculty was ably assisted by: Ms. Fiona Rafferty (IrSPEN Education Committee) and Ms. Martina Smyth (IrSPEN Administrator).

Overview of the day

This programme was run by IrSPEN (Irish Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism) in association with RCPI (Royal College of Physician of Ireland) and in accordance with ESPEN LLL guidance. The course took place in RCPI Kildare Street, Dublin, on the morning of the 26^th November 2016. Topics covered included:

• Epidemiology and consequences.
• Sarcopenia – causes of undernutrition.
• Nutritional screening and assessment.
• Artificial nutrition support.

After the four modules, there were two case studies presented, followed by a test quiz at the end. A total of 45 participants took part in the day, of whom 43 completed the test. One of these participants lived and worked in Switzerland, the remainder were living and working in Ireland. Of the 45 participants, 93% were medical doctors – mainly Gastroenterology Specialist Registrars. There was one dietitian and two nutritionists also in attendance. Of the 43 participants who took the test, 93% passed. Each participant who passed the test received 3 LLL CME credits and a Course Certificate. All doctors who attended from Ireland also received RCPI CME credits.

Feedback

The course was very well received. Forty participants completed anonymised evaluation forms. All 40 were very positive about their experiences and there was no negative feedback. Participants enjoyed the course and found it beneficial with real potential for impacting on their practice. Participants requested further courses more frequently.

Nutritional Support in Liver Disease (LLL Live Module Topic 13)
(Tuesday 20th May 2014)

The second live module held in conjunction with the RCPI took place on Tuesday 20th May 2014 at the RCPI, Setanta House, Setanta Place, Dublin 2.

The subject was Nutritional Support in Liver Disease (LLL Topic 13). For the first time in Ireland, participants could gain ESPEN LLL credits for attending each live module and passing the short MCQ test (30 mins) associated with each module. In order to be eligible to take the test, you must be registered as an LLL programme user. More details on how to do this will be sent to you once you register with the RCPI for the module.

Dr Jon Shaffer delivered the lecture on Nutritional Support in Liver Disease. Jon Shaffer is a Gastroenterologist based at Salford Royal (formally known as Hope) Hospital in Manchester. He helped establish the Home Parenteral Nutrition service in 1980. The unit has experience of over 6oo patients, many of which have survived more than 20 years. He promoted the concept of “Intestinal Failure” and has lectured and advised nutrition societies all over the world in all aspects of intestinal failure. He has recently “semi-retired” from clinical work but still chairs the ESPEN Special Interest Group in Acute Intestinal Failure.

IrSPEN LLL Live Module
(December 2013)

The programme included two sessions:

• Morning: Nutritional Screening, Assessment, Energy Balance with case presentation and discussion.
  Speaker Prof. Alastair Forbes, Consultant Gastroenterologist, London
• Afternoon: Causes of Obesity and Nutritional Interventions in Obesity with case presentation and discussion.
  Speaker Dr Augusta Forbes, Turin, Italy

Both sessions were accredited with 3 LLL modules each.

Quiz
At the end of both sessions, delegates were asked to participate in a quiz which included 30 questions, the pass mark was 24. 30 delegates attended, 28 of which took the nutritional assessment quiz, 26 passed, 2 delegates failed. 24 delegates took the obesity quiz, 17 passed and 7 failed. 21 of the 30 delegates are now registered for the LLL programme with ESPEN.

Two of the Gastro SpRs gave this feedback:

• Great opportunity to engage with the LLL program, a global program for training in clinical nutrition. 
  Dr Grace Chan (St James’s)
• Having had very little undergraduate or postgraduate training in nutrition, this course was a very useful and informative session.
  Dr David Gibson (St Vincent’s)

IrSPEN NCHD Nutrition Training Day
(25th April 2012)

IrSPEN held a very successful Nutrition Training Day for NCHDs in the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland on 25th April 2012.

Amongst the presentations were: an interactive session on Fluid Management, an overview of Disease Related Malnutrition in the Irish healthcare system, Home Enteral Nutrition, the Refeeding Syndrome, Practicalities Of Parenteral Nutrition, Ethical Dilemmas In Artificial Nutrition Support and Nutritional Management Of The Obese Patient. We look forward to ongoing programmes with the RCPI. The programme and presentations are available below to download.

IrSPEN SpR Nutrition Study Day
(7th January 2011)

The inaugural IrSPEN Nutrition Study Day was held in RCPI On 7th January 2011. The study day went well with contributions from Dietitians, Gastroenterologists and Intensivists. A huge thank-you is due to Carmel O’Hanlon Clinical Specialist Dietitian in Beaumont Hospital for her hard work in organising the event, and to Dr Nick Kennedy(TCD)  for his role for the day as facilitator.

Attendees were invited to submit a case study on a nutrition related case to be in with a chance of winning a €300 hotel voucher! The programme and presentations are available below to download.

Nutrition Society Meeting
Nutrition – Getting The Balance Right In 2010
(16th-18th June 2010)

Hosted by the Irish Section, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland

BAPEN South Nutrition Day
All systems go! An overview of how a number of organ systems can influence some aspects of nutrition support
(5th July 2010)

4th Southern Region BAPEN Day, Hampshire