2021 Awareness week
Celebrated annually, the Canadian National Spinal CSF Leak Week aims to increase awareness of Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension caused by a Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak and to incite improvement to access to diagnosis, treatment and care in Canada for this condition.
Our Most Pressing Objective:
A National SIH Data Registry.
BECAUSE…
“Without data you are just another person with an opinion”
Data collection is essential for effective Advocacy.
Data collection is essential to improves Knowledge.
Data is vital to developing effective policies.
Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is a debilitating and often invisible medical condition resulting from a spontaneous spinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. Under-diagnosis and/or misdiagnosis of a spinal CSF leak/SIH is common. Some patients experience the resolution of their symptoms without the need for care, but many require more definitive treatment including multiple patching procedures (blood and/or fibrin) and sometimes surgery. The diagnosis, treatment and care of spinal CSF leaks necessitate an experienced, multidisciplinary team requiring collaboration between neurology, neuroradiology, anesthesiology and neurosurgery departments. A multidisciplinary program model is needed in each Canadian province to properly assist in addressing the condition. Currently, such programs do not exist in Canada. Join us in a roundtable discussion format as our experts from across Canada:
Provide their perspectives on the diagnosis, treatment and care of SIH patients; - Highlight the challenges and limitations they face; - Explore potential developments and progress relating to better care for SIH patients; - Compare and contrast Canadian and American models; and - Examine how experts can collaborate to improve care for SIH patients.
Please note that this program will be offered in English.
PROGRAM CHAIR
Yasmine Hoydonckx, MD, FIPP, Assistant Professor, University of Toronto, Dept. of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University Health Network – Sinai Health and Women’s College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario.
PROGRAM SPEAKERS
(listed alphabetically)
Farnaz Amoozegar, MD, MSc, FRCPC, Clinical Associate Professor, University of Calgary and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Dept. of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, Calgary, Alberta.
Ian Beauprie, MD, FRCPC, Associate Professor, Medical Director, Dept. of Anesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia. .
Richard Farb, MD, FRCPC, Associate Professor, University of Toronto, Director, Mount Sinai Hospital, Dept. of Medical Imaging, Division of Neuroradiology, Mount Sinai Hospital Toronto, Ontario.
James Khan, MD, FRCPC, Assistant Professor, University of Toronto, Dept. of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, University Health Network – Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario.
Elizabeth Leroux, MD, FRCPC, Associate Professor, Dept. of Neurology, Brunswick medical center, Montreal, Quebec.
Eric Massicotte, MD, MSc, MBA, FRCSC, Associate Professor, University of Toronto - Staff Neurosurgeon, University Health Network - Director of Undergraduate Education for Neurosurgery - Medical Director, Concussion Program Altum Health - Medical Director, Back & Neck Program Altum Health, Toronto, Ontario.
Patrick Nicholson, MD, FRCPC, Assistant Professor, University of Toronto, Dept. of Medical Imaging - Division of Neuroradiology, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Date: Saturday, June 12, 2021
Time: 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM (ET)
Where: Zoom Webinar
PROGRAM DETAILS
Date: Saturday, June 12, 2021
Time: 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM (ET)
Where: Zoom Webinar
Registration Cost: No Charge
EVENT SPONSORS & IN-KIND DONORS
Help us raise awareness and share/tag your purple-themed photos with us using our hashtags #:
#spinalcsfleakweek
#SpinalCSFLeakCanada
#SIH
“During Spinal CSF Leak Awareness Week, we invite you to wear #purple, light/decorate your home in #purple… show off your Spinal CSF Leak t-shirt and gear! Let’s get creative and help us spread awareness!”
Purple is the Awareness colour for #spinalCSFleak #SIH #headache #MIGRAINE #dementia and many brain disorders.
We are happy to announce that the city of Edmonton,Toronto, Ottawa, St. John’s and Town of Paradise have proclaimed June 6-13 as Spinal CSF Leak Awareness Week. Thank you Ottawa, St. John’s, Toronto & Town of Paradise!
This year the Niagara Falls will be illuminated in purple for Spinal CSF Leak Awareness Week - In order to follow this event live, a live video link has been created by the Niagara Falls Illumination Board so that the public can see the illumination of the falls while staying at home. Link: (https://www.earthcam.com/canada/niagarafalls/?cam=niagarafalls_str)
On behalf of everyone at Spinal CSF Leak Canada, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Niagara Falls Illumination Board for their tribute and support of the Spinal CSF Leak Awareness Week.
NIAGARA FALLS | JUNE 6, 2021
The CN Tower will be illuminated in purple for Spinal CSF Leak Awareness Week - See dates below:
TORONTO CN TOWER | JUNE 9, 2020
Raising awareness and educating the public and the medical community means more efficient diagnoses and better access to treatment for SIH patients.
Breakthroughs in research will improve testing and treatments.