News from the SVS

An indispensable free tool for clinicians, trainees and third-party payers

The SVS has introduced its new, free Clinical Practice Guidelines app for Apple and Android users. The new app, SVS iPG, is designed for surgeons, referring physicians, trainees and payers and offers easy access to 10 concise, interactive practice guidelines (not in PDF format). Also included are four calculators for WIfI, CEAP, Villalta and VCSS scores. Users will find grades of recommendations, explanations and abstracts, all based on the latest scientific research. The project was led by Dr. Peter Gloviczki, chair of the SVS Document Oversight Committee.

Click on your choice of download sites below:

An indispensable free tool for clinicians, trainees and third-party payers

The SVS has introduced its new, free Clinical Practice Guidelines app for Apple and Android users. The new app, SVS iPG, is designed for surgeons, referring physicians, trainees and payers and offers easy access to 10 concise, interactive practice guidelines (not in PDF format). Also included are four calculators for WIfI, CEAP, Villalta and VCSS scores. Users will find grades of recommendations, explanations and abstracts, all based on the latest scientific research. The project was led by Dr. Peter Gloviczki, chair of the SVS Document Oversight Committee.

Click on your choice of download sites below:

An indispensable free tool for clinicians, trainees and third-party payers

The SVS has introduced its new, free Clinical Practice Guidelines app for Apple and Android users. The new app, SVS iPG, is designed for surgeons, referring physicians, trainees and payers and offers easy access to 10 concise, interactive practice guidelines (not in PDF format). Also included are four calculators for WIfI, CEAP, Villalta and VCSS scores. Users will find grades of recommendations, explanations and abstracts, all based on the latest scientific research. The project was led by Dr. Peter Gloviczki, chair of the SVS Document Oversight Committee.

Click on your choice of download sites below:

That’s no typo – SVS members have until Sept. 30 to nominate someone for the SVS nominating committee. The SVS Nominating Committee includes one member who is elected by the SVS membership in the autumn preceding the next year’s election. Nominees for the at-large position must be SVS members in good standing for ten years or more and cannot be a current member of the Board of Directors or one of the four Councils (Clinical Practice, Education, Policy and Advocacy, Research).

All qualified nominations received will be sent to the SVS membership for vote in October. The nominee obtaining the highest number of votes shall serve on the Nominating Committee.

Nominations should be submitted no later than Sept. 30, 2015 to the SVS Secretary.

By email to: [email protected]

By letter to: Michel Makaroun, MD, Society for Vascular Surgery, 633 N. St. Clair, 22th floor, Chicago, IL 60611

That’s no typo – SVS members have until Sept. 30 to nominate someone for the SVS nominating committee. The SVS Nominating Committee includes one member who is elected by the SVS membership in the autumn preceding the next year’s election. Nominees for the at-large position must be SVS members in good standing for ten years or more and cannot be a current member of the Board of Directors or one of the four Councils (Clinical Practice, Education, Policy and Advocacy, Research).

All qualified nominations received will be sent to the SVS membership for vote in October. The nominee obtaining the highest number of votes shall serve on the Nominating Committee.

Nominations should be submitted no later than Sept. 30, 2015 to the SVS Secretary.

By email to: [email protected]

By letter to: Michel Makaroun, MD, Society for Vascular Surgery, 633 N. St. Clair, 22th floor, Chicago, IL 60611

That’s no typo – SVS members have until Sept. 30 to nominate someone for the SVS nominating committee. The SVS Nominating Committee includes one member who is elected by the SVS membership in the autumn preceding the next year’s election. Nominees for the at-large position must be SVS members in good standing for ten years or more and cannot be a current member of the Board of Directors or one of the four Councils (Clinical Practice, Education, Policy and Advocacy, Research).

All qualified nominations received will be sent to the SVS membership for vote in October. The nominee obtaining the highest number of votes shall serve on the Nominating Committee.

Nominations should be submitted no later than Sept. 30, 2015 to the SVS Secretary.

By email to: [email protected]

By letter to: Michel Makaroun, MD, Society for Vascular Surgery, 633 N. St. Clair, 22th floor, Chicago, IL 60611

Register now for the annual VEITHsymposium, scheduled from Nov. 17-21, 2015 at the New York Hilton Midtown in Manhattan. The VEITHsymposium provides vascular surgeons and other vascular specialists with a five-day conference on the most current information about new developments in clinical practice and relevant research.

The symposium offers more than 900 fast-paced presentations on what is new and important in the treatment of vascular disease. Important updates and re-evaluations, as well as the latest significant advances, changing concepts in diagnosis and management, pressing controversies and new techniques, agents and diagnostic modalities will be presented. Video case presentations will also be included.

This event is offered in collaboration with the Society for Vascular Surgery. VEITHsymposium is sponsored and accredited by the Cleveland Clinic. This activity is approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits(TM).

Register now for the annual VEITHsymposium, scheduled from Nov. 17-21, 2015 at the New York Hilton Midtown in Manhattan. The VEITHsymposium provides vascular surgeons and other vascular specialists with a five-day conference on the most current information about new developments in clinical practice and relevant research.

The symposium offers more than 900 fast-paced presentations on what is new and important in the treatment of vascular disease. Important updates and re-evaluations, as well as the latest significant advances, changing concepts in diagnosis and management, pressing controversies and new techniques, agents and diagnostic modalities will be presented. Video case presentations will also be included.

This event is offered in collaboration with the Society for Vascular Surgery. VEITHsymposium is sponsored and accredited by the Cleveland Clinic. This activity is approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits(TM).

Register now for the annual VEITHsymposium, scheduled from Nov. 17-21, 2015 at the New York Hilton Midtown in Manhattan. The VEITHsymposium provides vascular surgeons and other vascular specialists with a five-day conference on the most current information about new developments in clinical practice and relevant research.

The symposium offers more than 900 fast-paced presentations on what is new and important in the treatment of vascular disease. Important updates and re-evaluations, as well as the latest significant advances, changing concepts in diagnosis and management, pressing controversies and new techniques, agents and diagnostic modalities will be presented. Video case presentations will also be included.

This event is offered in collaboration with the Society for Vascular Surgery. VEITHsymposium is sponsored and accredited by the Cleveland Clinic. This activity is approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits(TM).

The best of our Vascular Annual Meeting photos are now on Flickr, a photo-sharing website. All photos are high resolution and free. If you’re looking for a photo of yourself at the podium or enjoying time with friends, you can download it for free.

Photos are organized by the day on which they were shot. If you see yourself in a photo and are not identified, please put your first and last name in the “comments” box. You can also identify anyone else you recognize; just tell us where they are in the picture.

(Note: Not all speakers were photographed, but all the available speaker photos are posted.)

View the photos here

The best of our Vascular Annual Meeting photos are now on Flickr, a photo-sharing website. All photos are high resolution and free. If you’re looking for a photo of yourself at the podium or enjoying time with friends, you can download it for free.

Photos are organized by the day on which they were shot. If you see yourself in a photo and are not identified, please put your first and last name in the “comments” box. You can also identify anyone else you recognize; just tell us where they are in the picture.

(Note: Not all speakers were photographed, but all the available speaker photos are posted.)

View the photos here

The best of our Vascular Annual Meeting photos are now on Flickr, a photo-sharing website. All photos are high resolution and free. If you’re looking for a photo of yourself at the podium or enjoying time with friends, you can download it for free.

Photos are organized by the day on which they were shot. If you see yourself in a photo and are not identified, please put your first and last name in the “comments” box. You can also identify anyone else you recognize; just tell us where they are in the picture.

(Note: Not all speakers were photographed, but all the available speaker photos are posted.)

View the photos here

Funding through the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s VITA program is now available for those developing an innovative technology for treatment of vascular disorders or thrombotic diseases. VITA is a contract program supporting translational research projects that address unmet needs in vascular disorders, thrombotic diseases, and pulmonary hypertension. Responses are due Oct. 8, 2015. Apply for funding through this program by October 8, 2015.

Learn more.

Funding through the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s VITA program is now available for those developing an innovative technology for treatment of vascular disorders or thrombotic diseases. VITA is a contract program supporting translational research projects that address unmet needs in vascular disorders, thrombotic diseases, and pulmonary hypertension. Responses are due Oct. 8, 2015. Apply for funding through this program by October 8, 2015.

Learn more.

Funding through the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s VITA program is now available for those developing an innovative technology for treatment of vascular disorders or thrombotic diseases. VITA is a contract program supporting translational research projects that address unmet needs in vascular disorders, thrombotic diseases, and pulmonary hypertension. Responses are due Oct. 8, 2015. Apply for funding through this program by October 8, 2015.

Learn more.

The SVS IDE Application template is now available. The template is for physician-modified endographs, or industry manufactured endovascular systems for infrarenal, juxtarenal or pararenal aortic aneurysms. Developed in collaboration with FDA, the template can be used for developing an original IDE application. To learn more about the template and the guidelines for use, investigators may email the SVS Research Director.

The SVS IDE Application template is now available. The template is for physician-modified endographs, or industry manufactured endovascular systems for infrarenal, juxtarenal or pararenal aortic aneurysms. Developed in collaboration with FDA, the template can be used for developing an original IDE application. To learn more about the template and the guidelines for use, investigators may email the SVS Research Director.

The SVS IDE Application template is now available. The template is for physician-modified endographs, or industry manufactured endovascular systems for infrarenal, juxtarenal or pararenal aortic aneurysms. Developed in collaboration with FDA, the template can be used for developing an original IDE application. To learn more about the template and the guidelines for use, investigators may email the SVS Research Director.

Recordings and slides of almost all 2015 Vascular Annual Meeting sessions are now available online. Attendees should have received a link for their free online access; if you missed it, contact [email protected]. If you were not able to attend the meeting, you can “attend” on your own schedule by purchasing online access to almost the entire meeting for $499.

Click here for more information.

Recordings and slides of almost all 2015 Vascular Annual Meeting sessions are now available online. Attendees should have received a link for their free online access; if you missed it, contact [email protected]. If you were not able to attend the meeting, you can “attend” on your own schedule by purchasing online access to almost the entire meeting for $499.

Click here for more information.

Recordings and slides of almost all 2015 Vascular Annual Meeting sessions are now available online. Attendees should have received a link for their free online access; if you missed it, contact [email protected]. If you were not able to attend the meeting, you can “attend” on your own schedule by purchasing online access to almost the entire meeting for $499.

Click here for more information.

The SVS Comprehensive Vascular Review Course will be Aug. 28-29 near Chicago’s O’Hare airport. This educational activity is an intensive two-day vascular surgery review course designed to help practicing vascular surgeons update their knowledge base. The faculty consists of vascular surgeons with extensive expertise in their respective fields. The course will include didactic lectures, review of VESAP3 questions, attendee interaction with audience response systems, and a panel for questions and answers. The Society for Vascular Surgery designates this live activity for a maximum of 17 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

All registrants will be allowed to purchase VESAP3 for $300, a special price that is only available at the time of registration. Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to: 1. Identify the complete spectrum of vascular disease treated by the modern vascular surgeon; 2. Apply basic evaluation and management for uncommon vascular disorders; 3. Answer self-assessment questions regarding current therapy for modern vascular disease.

Click to learn more and register.

The SVS Comprehensive Vascular Review Course will be Aug. 28-29 near Chicago’s O’Hare airport. This educational activity is an intensive two-day vascular surgery review course designed to help practicing vascular surgeons update their knowledge base. The faculty consists of vascular surgeons with extensive expertise in their respective fields. The course will include didactic lectures, review of VESAP3 questions, attendee interaction with audience response systems, and a panel for questions and answers. The Society for Vascular Surgery designates this live activity for a maximum of 17 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

All registrants will be allowed to purchase VESAP3 for $300, a special price that is only available at the time of registration. Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to: 1. Identify the complete spectrum of vascular disease treated by the modern vascular surgeon; 2. Apply basic evaluation and management for uncommon vascular disorders; 3. Answer self-assessment questions regarding current therapy for modern vascular disease.

Click to learn more and register.

The SVS Comprehensive Vascular Review Course will be Aug. 28-29 near Chicago’s O’Hare airport. This educational activity is an intensive two-day vascular surgery review course designed to help practicing vascular surgeons update their knowledge base. The faculty consists of vascular surgeons with extensive expertise in their respective fields. The course will include didactic lectures, review of VESAP3 questions, attendee interaction with audience response systems, and a panel for questions and answers. The Society for Vascular Surgery designates this live activity for a maximum of 17 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

All registrants will be allowed to purchase VESAP3 for $300, a special price that is only available at the time of registration. Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to: 1. Identify the complete spectrum of vascular disease treated by the modern vascular surgeon; 2. Apply basic evaluation and management for uncommon vascular disorders; 3. Answer self-assessment questions regarding current therapy for modern vascular disease.

Click to learn more and register.

Summer is a great time to pick up your Comprehensive Vascular Review Course. The Society for Vascular Surgery makes it even easier by offering everything you need in just two intensive days. This course is offered Aug. 28-29 at the Lowes Chicago O’Hare, Rosemont, Ill. View hotel information [PDF]. Expert vascular surgeons will lead didactic lectures, review VESAP questions, encourage attendee interaction using audience response systems, and offer question/answer panels. Learning objectives: Upon completion, participants should be able to: 1. Identify the complete spectrum of vascular disease treated by the modern vascular surgeon 2. Apply basic evaluation and management for uncommon vascular disorders 3. Answer self-assessment questions regarding current therapy for modern vascular disease. View the agenda [PDF].

Cost: $1,050 for SVS members; $975 for candidates and $1,125 for non-members. Click here to register. 

Summer is a great time to pick up your Comprehensive Vascular Review Course. The Society for Vascular Surgery makes it even easier by offering everything you need in just two intensive days. This course is offered Aug. 28-29 at the Lowes Chicago O’Hare, Rosemont, Ill. View hotel information [PDF]. Expert vascular surgeons will lead didactic lectures, review VESAP questions, encourage attendee interaction using audience response systems, and offer question/answer panels. Learning objectives: Upon completion, participants should be able to: 1. Identify the complete spectrum of vascular disease treated by the modern vascular surgeon 2. Apply basic evaluation and management for uncommon vascular disorders 3. Answer self-assessment questions regarding current therapy for modern vascular disease. View the agenda [PDF].

Cost: $1,050 for SVS members; $975 for candidates and $1,125 for non-members. Click here to register. 

Summer is a great time to pick up your Comprehensive Vascular Review Course. The Society for Vascular Surgery makes it even easier by offering everything you need in just two intensive days. This course is offered Aug. 28-29 at the Lowes Chicago O’Hare, Rosemont, Ill. View hotel information [PDF]. Expert vascular surgeons will lead didactic lectures, review VESAP questions, encourage attendee interaction using audience response systems, and offer question/answer panels. Learning objectives: Upon completion, participants should be able to: 1. Identify the complete spectrum of vascular disease treated by the modern vascular surgeon 2. Apply basic evaluation and management for uncommon vascular disorders 3. Answer self-assessment questions regarding current therapy for modern vascular disease. View the agenda [PDF].

Cost: $1,050 for SVS members; $975 for candidates and $1,125 for non-members. Click here to register. 

In the past few months the BEST-CLI study has continued to energetically enroll patients. More than 100 of the planned 120 trial sites have been activated across the U.S. and Canada, and more than 150 patients have been successfully enrolled.

The BEST-CLI trial will be a landmark trial that defines practice for CLI care. It is the largest CLI trial to date, and is poised to answer questions that the original BASIL trial in England could not. The largest cohort of patients will provide clarification on the role of open surgical bypass when optimal conduit, a single continuous segment of greater saphenous vein, is available.

A second, independently powered cohort will compare endovascular treatment to surgical bypass using a so-called disadvantaged conduit (i.e. arm vein, composite vein, lesser saphenous vein, cryopreserved vein and prosthetic conduit) and will provide vascular surgeons with valuable information for those clinical situations in which good saphenous vein is absent.

Given ongoing questions regarding best practice in this difficult patient population, the need to define efficacy and value as it relates to specific revascularization techniques for CLI has never been higher.

The recent New York Times article, which cast a spotlight on the misguided application of current endovascular technology, “only serves to accent the associated clinical and financial challenges we routinely face when treating patients with CLI,” noted Dr. Matthew Menard, who is co-principal investigator of the study.

The trial will assess outcomes following revascularization across a range of demographic, anatomic and clinical variables, and provide much-needed information on the impact of such factors as tibial disease, diabetes, renal dysfunction and the degree of tissue loss on specific treatment strategies.

BEST-CLI includes additional components that will:

• Capture the hemodynamic impact of different therapeutic approaches,

• Validate the recently designed SVS WIfI classification schema,

• Quantify the clinical and functional impact of all re-interventions,

• Assess cost-effectiveness, particularly important given the financial burden associated with both surgical and endovascular interventions,

• Use novel endpoints based on the SVS-defined Outcome Performance Goals, including MALE-free survival and Re-intervention and Amputation-free Survival (RAS).

Study leads are grateful for the sustained enthusiasm from SVS members.

“The progress to date represents a tremendous effort from all who have risen to the challenge to support the trial,” said Dr. Menard.

“The enrollment targets for the trial remain formidable, however,” cautioned study co-PI Dr. Alik Farber, “and given the specter of study termination by the NHLBI if enrollment continues to lag behind expectations, there is an ongoing imperative to consider all patients with CLI as potential candidates for the trial.”

If you have a busy CLI practice and are not yet participating in the trial, please join this landmark study. Contact [email protected] for more information.

In the past few months the BEST-CLI study has continued to energetically enroll patients. More than 100 of the planned 120 trial sites have been activated across the U.S. and Canada, and more than 150 patients have been successfully enrolled.

The BEST-CLI trial will be a landmark trial that defines practice for CLI care. It is the largest CLI trial to date, and is poised to answer questions that the original BASIL trial in England could not. The largest cohort of patients will provide clarification on the role of open surgical bypass when optimal conduit, a single continuous segment of greater saphenous vein, is available.

A second, independently powered cohort will compare endovascular treatment to surgical bypass using a so-called disadvantaged conduit (i.e. arm vein, composite vein, lesser saphenous vein, cryopreserved vein and prosthetic conduit) and will provide vascular surgeons with valuable information for those clinical situations in which good saphenous vein is absent.

Given ongoing questions regarding best practice in this difficult patient population, the need to define efficacy and value as it relates to specific revascularization techniques for CLI has never been higher.

The recent New York Times article, which cast a spotlight on the misguided application of current endovascular technology, “only serves to accent the associated clinical and financial challenges we routinely face when treating patients with CLI,” noted Dr. Matthew Menard, who is co-principal investigator of the study.

The trial will assess outcomes following revascularization across a range of demographic, anatomic and clinical variables, and provide much-needed information on the impact of such factors as tibial disease, diabetes, renal dysfunction and the degree of tissue loss on specific treatment strategies.

BEST-CLI includes additional components that will:

• Capture the hemodynamic impact of different therapeutic approaches,

• Validate the recently designed SVS WIfI classification schema,

• Quantify the clinical and functional impact of all re-interventions,

• Assess cost-effectiveness, particularly important given the financial burden associated with both surgical and endovascular interventions,

• Use novel endpoints based on the SVS-defined Outcome Performance Goals, including MALE-free survival and Re-intervention and Amputation-free Survival (RAS).

Study leads are grateful for the sustained enthusiasm from SVS members.

“The progress to date represents a tremendous effort from all who have risen to the challenge to support the trial,” said Dr. Menard.

“The enrollment targets for the trial remain formidable, however,” cautioned study co-PI Dr. Alik Farber, “and given the specter of study termination by the NHLBI if enrollment continues to lag behind expectations, there is an ongoing imperative to consider all patients with CLI as potential candidates for the trial.”

If you have a busy CLI practice and are not yet participating in the trial, please join this landmark study. Contact [email protected] for more information.

In the past few months the BEST-CLI study has continued to energetically enroll patients. More than 100 of the planned 120 trial sites have been activated across the U.S. and Canada, and more than 150 patients have been successfully enrolled.

The BEST-CLI trial will be a landmark trial that defines practice for CLI care. It is the largest CLI trial to date, and is poised to answer questions that the original BASIL trial in England could not. The largest cohort of patients will provide clarification on the role of open surgical bypass when optimal conduit, a single continuous segment of greater saphenous vein, is available.

A second, independently powered cohort will compare endovascular treatment to surgical bypass using a so-called disadvantaged conduit (i.e. arm vein, composite vein, lesser saphenous vein, cryopreserved vein and prosthetic conduit) and will provide vascular surgeons with valuable information for those clinical situations in which good saphenous vein is absent.

Given ongoing questions regarding best practice in this difficult patient population, the need to define efficacy and value as it relates to specific revascularization techniques for CLI has never been higher.

The recent New York Times article, which cast a spotlight on the misguided application of current endovascular technology, “only serves to accent the associated clinical and financial challenges we routinely face when treating patients with CLI,” noted Dr. Matthew Menard, who is co-principal investigator of the study.

The trial will assess outcomes following revascularization across a range of demographic, anatomic and clinical variables, and provide much-needed information on the impact of such factors as tibial disease, diabetes, renal dysfunction and the degree of tissue loss on specific treatment strategies.

BEST-CLI includes additional components that will:

• Capture the hemodynamic impact of different therapeutic approaches,

• Validate the recently designed SVS WIfI classification schema,

• Quantify the clinical and functional impact of all re-interventions,

• Assess cost-effectiveness, particularly important given the financial burden associated with both surgical and endovascular interventions,

• Use novel endpoints based on the SVS-defined Outcome Performance Goals, including MALE-free survival and Re-intervention and Amputation-free Survival (RAS).

Study leads are grateful for the sustained enthusiasm from SVS members.

“The progress to date represents a tremendous effort from all who have risen to the challenge to support the trial,” said Dr. Menard.

“The enrollment targets for the trial remain formidable, however,” cautioned study co-PI Dr. Alik Farber, “and given the specter of study termination by the NHLBI if enrollment continues to lag behind expectations, there is an ongoing imperative to consider all patients with CLI as potential candidates for the trial.”

If you have a busy CLI practice and are not yet participating in the trial, please join this landmark study. Contact [email protected] for more information.