User login
The 2019 SVS Foundation Annual Report is Ready
The SVS Foundation has just published its 2019 Annual Report. This year, the report focuses on how past award recipients have used their grants to impact and improve patient care. More than $13 million in grants over the past three decades have given recipients the support they need to impact the lives of patients and those who provide care. Read about the stories, see the numbers and consider giving to the SVS Foundation in their 2019 Annual Report.
The SVS Foundation has just published its 2019 Annual Report. This year, the report focuses on how past award recipients have used their grants to impact and improve patient care. More than $13 million in grants over the past three decades have given recipients the support they need to impact the lives of patients and those who provide care. Read about the stories, see the numbers and consider giving to the SVS Foundation in their 2019 Annual Report.
The SVS Foundation has just published its 2019 Annual Report. This year, the report focuses on how past award recipients have used their grants to impact and improve patient care. More than $13 million in grants over the past three decades have given recipients the support they need to impact the lives of patients and those who provide care. Read about the stories, see the numbers and consider giving to the SVS Foundation in their 2019 Annual Report.
Apply for the new Leadership Development Program
The SVS, in collaboration with the Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Society (VESS) and the Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery (SCVS), has launched a new leadership development program. Its aim is to help our community of vascular surgeons reach their full potential as leaders and make the most positive impact possible in our specialty, their place of work, their community and other areas of importance in their life. The program is open to academic and community practice vascular surgeons from the US or Canada who are 5-10 years out from training. Learn more here.
The SVS, in collaboration with the Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Society (VESS) and the Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery (SCVS), has launched a new leadership development program. Its aim is to help our community of vascular surgeons reach their full potential as leaders and make the most positive impact possible in our specialty, their place of work, their community and other areas of importance in their life. The program is open to academic and community practice vascular surgeons from the US or Canada who are 5-10 years out from training. Learn more here.
The SVS, in collaboration with the Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Society (VESS) and the Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery (SCVS), has launched a new leadership development program. Its aim is to help our community of vascular surgeons reach their full potential as leaders and make the most positive impact possible in our specialty, their place of work, their community and other areas of importance in their life. The program is open to academic and community practice vascular surgeons from the US or Canada who are 5-10 years out from training. Learn more here.
SVS-SCVS-VESS Leadership Development Program Coming in 2020
The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS), in collaboration with the Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Society (VESS) and the Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery (SCVS), is launching an exciting new program meant to provide a meaningful leadership development experience for a select group of mid-career vascular surgeons. This highly interactive and unique program will begin in 2020 and be implemented over a six-month period. The aim is to help our community of vascular surgeons reach their full potential as leaders and make the most positive impact possible in our specialty, their place of work, their community and other areas of importance in their life. Learn more here.
The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS), in collaboration with the Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Society (VESS) and the Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery (SCVS), is launching an exciting new program meant to provide a meaningful leadership development experience for a select group of mid-career vascular surgeons. This highly interactive and unique program will begin in 2020 and be implemented over a six-month period. The aim is to help our community of vascular surgeons reach their full potential as leaders and make the most positive impact possible in our specialty, their place of work, their community and other areas of importance in their life. Learn more here.
The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS), in collaboration with the Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Society (VESS) and the Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery (SCVS), is launching an exciting new program meant to provide a meaningful leadership development experience for a select group of mid-career vascular surgeons. This highly interactive and unique program will begin in 2020 and be implemented over a six-month period. The aim is to help our community of vascular surgeons reach their full potential as leaders and make the most positive impact possible in our specialty, their place of work, their community and other areas of importance in their life. Learn more here.
The importance of getting involved for gastroenterology
.
The evening before Advocacy Day, we discussed strategies for having a successful meeting on Capitol Hill with AGA staff (including Kathleen Teixeira, AGA vice president of government affairs, and Jonathan Sollish, AGA senior coordinator, public policy). We discussed having our “asks” supported with evidence, and “getting personal” about how these policy issues directly affect us and our patients. We also had the chance to hear from Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) , both of whom invited our questions. Both congressmen are friends of AGA, with McGovern serving as chair of the House Rules Committee, and Blunt serving as chair of the Senate Labor-HHS Subcommittee on Appropriations.
Advocacy Day began with a group breakfast during which we reviewed some of the policy issues of central importance to gastroenterology:
• Removing Barriers to the Colorectal Cancer Screening Act (HR1570/S668), which enjoys strong bipartisan support, would correct the “cost-sharing” problem of screening colonoscopies turning therapeutic (with polypectomy) for our Medicare patients, by waiving the coinsurance for screening colonoscopies – regardless of whether we remove polyps during these colonoscopies.
• Safe Step Act, HR2279, legislation introduced in the House, facilitates a common-sense and timely (72 hours or 24 hours if life-threatening) appeals process when our patients are subjected to step therapy (“fail first”) by insurers.
• Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2019, HR3107, legislation in the House, eases onerous prior authorization burdens by promoting an electronic prior authorization process, ensuring requests are approved by qualified medical professionals who have specialty-specific experience, and mandating that plans report their rates of delays and denials.
• NIH research funding facilitates innovative research and supports young investigators in our field.
Full of enthusiasm, our six-strong North Carolina contingent (pictured, L-R, Ziad Gellad, MD, MPH, AGAF; David Leiman, MD, MSPH; Animesh Jain, MD; Anne Finefrock Peery, MD; Lisa Gangarosa, MD, AGAF, chair of the AGA Government Affairs Committee; and Amit Patel, MD) met with the offices of Rep. David Price (D-N.C.), and both North Carolina Senators, Richard Burr (R) and Thom Tillis (R) on Capitol Hill to convey our “asks.”
At Price’s office in the stately Rayburn House Office Building, we thanked his team for cosponsorship of H.R. 1570 and H.R. 2279. We also discussed the importance of increasing research funding by the AGA’s goal of $2.5 billion for NIH for fiscal year 2020, noting that a majority of our delegation has received NIH funding for our training and/or research activities. We also encouraged Price’s office to cosponsor H.R. 3107, sharing our personal experiences about the administrative toll of the prior authorization process for obtaining appropriate and recommended medications for our patients – in my case, swallowed topical corticosteroids for patients with eosinophilic esophagitis.
We moved on to Sen. Tillis’s office, where we thanked his office for cosponsorship of S. 668 but encouraged his office to cosponsor upcoming companion Senate legislation for H.R. 2279 and H.R. 3107. Our colleague capably conveyed how an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patient he saw recently may require a colectomy due to delays in appropriate treatment stemming from these regulatory processes. We also showed Tillis’s office how NIH funding generates significant economic activity in North Carolina, supporting jobs in our state.
After a quick stop at the U.S. Senate gift shop in the basement to buy souvenirs for our kids, our last meeting was with Sen. Burr’s office. There, we also thanked his office for cosponsorship of S. 668 but encouraged him to sign the “Dear Colleague” letter that Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-OH, has circulated asking CMS to address the colonoscopy cost-sharing “loophole.” We discussed the importance of cosponsoring upcoming companion Senate legislation for H.R. 2279 and H.R. 3107, sharing stories from our clinical practices about how these regulatory burdens have delayed treatment for our patients.
You can get involved, too.
AGA Advocacy Day was a tremendous experience, but it is not the only way AGA members can get involved and take action. The AGA Advocacy website, gastro.org/advocacy, provides more information on multiple avenues for advocacy. These include an online advocacy tool for sending templated letters on these issues to your elected officials.
Perhaps now more than ever, it is crucial that we get involved to support gastroenterology and advocate for our patients.
Dr. Patel is assistant professor, division of gastroenterology, Duke University, Cary, N.C.; member, AGA Clinical Guidelines Committee.
.
The evening before Advocacy Day, we discussed strategies for having a successful meeting on Capitol Hill with AGA staff (including Kathleen Teixeira, AGA vice president of government affairs, and Jonathan Sollish, AGA senior coordinator, public policy). We discussed having our “asks” supported with evidence, and “getting personal” about how these policy issues directly affect us and our patients. We also had the chance to hear from Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) , both of whom invited our questions. Both congressmen are friends of AGA, with McGovern serving as chair of the House Rules Committee, and Blunt serving as chair of the Senate Labor-HHS Subcommittee on Appropriations.
Advocacy Day began with a group breakfast during which we reviewed some of the policy issues of central importance to gastroenterology:
• Removing Barriers to the Colorectal Cancer Screening Act (HR1570/S668), which enjoys strong bipartisan support, would correct the “cost-sharing” problem of screening colonoscopies turning therapeutic (with polypectomy) for our Medicare patients, by waiving the coinsurance for screening colonoscopies – regardless of whether we remove polyps during these colonoscopies.
• Safe Step Act, HR2279, legislation introduced in the House, facilitates a common-sense and timely (72 hours or 24 hours if life-threatening) appeals process when our patients are subjected to step therapy (“fail first”) by insurers.
• Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2019, HR3107, legislation in the House, eases onerous prior authorization burdens by promoting an electronic prior authorization process, ensuring requests are approved by qualified medical professionals who have specialty-specific experience, and mandating that plans report their rates of delays and denials.
• NIH research funding facilitates innovative research and supports young investigators in our field.
Full of enthusiasm, our six-strong North Carolina contingent (pictured, L-R, Ziad Gellad, MD, MPH, AGAF; David Leiman, MD, MSPH; Animesh Jain, MD; Anne Finefrock Peery, MD; Lisa Gangarosa, MD, AGAF, chair of the AGA Government Affairs Committee; and Amit Patel, MD) met with the offices of Rep. David Price (D-N.C.), and both North Carolina Senators, Richard Burr (R) and Thom Tillis (R) on Capitol Hill to convey our “asks.”
At Price’s office in the stately Rayburn House Office Building, we thanked his team for cosponsorship of H.R. 1570 and H.R. 2279. We also discussed the importance of increasing research funding by the AGA’s goal of $2.5 billion for NIH for fiscal year 2020, noting that a majority of our delegation has received NIH funding for our training and/or research activities. We also encouraged Price’s office to cosponsor H.R. 3107, sharing our personal experiences about the administrative toll of the prior authorization process for obtaining appropriate and recommended medications for our patients – in my case, swallowed topical corticosteroids for patients with eosinophilic esophagitis.
We moved on to Sen. Tillis’s office, where we thanked his office for cosponsorship of S. 668 but encouraged his office to cosponsor upcoming companion Senate legislation for H.R. 2279 and H.R. 3107. Our colleague capably conveyed how an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patient he saw recently may require a colectomy due to delays in appropriate treatment stemming from these regulatory processes. We also showed Tillis’s office how NIH funding generates significant economic activity in North Carolina, supporting jobs in our state.
After a quick stop at the U.S. Senate gift shop in the basement to buy souvenirs for our kids, our last meeting was with Sen. Burr’s office. There, we also thanked his office for cosponsorship of S. 668 but encouraged him to sign the “Dear Colleague” letter that Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-OH, has circulated asking CMS to address the colonoscopy cost-sharing “loophole.” We discussed the importance of cosponsoring upcoming companion Senate legislation for H.R. 2279 and H.R. 3107, sharing stories from our clinical practices about how these regulatory burdens have delayed treatment for our patients.
You can get involved, too.
AGA Advocacy Day was a tremendous experience, but it is not the only way AGA members can get involved and take action. The AGA Advocacy website, gastro.org/advocacy, provides more information on multiple avenues for advocacy. These include an online advocacy tool for sending templated letters on these issues to your elected officials.
Perhaps now more than ever, it is crucial that we get involved to support gastroenterology and advocate for our patients.
Dr. Patel is assistant professor, division of gastroenterology, Duke University, Cary, N.C.; member, AGA Clinical Guidelines Committee.
.
The evening before Advocacy Day, we discussed strategies for having a successful meeting on Capitol Hill with AGA staff (including Kathleen Teixeira, AGA vice president of government affairs, and Jonathan Sollish, AGA senior coordinator, public policy). We discussed having our “asks” supported with evidence, and “getting personal” about how these policy issues directly affect us and our patients. We also had the chance to hear from Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) , both of whom invited our questions. Both congressmen are friends of AGA, with McGovern serving as chair of the House Rules Committee, and Blunt serving as chair of the Senate Labor-HHS Subcommittee on Appropriations.
Advocacy Day began with a group breakfast during which we reviewed some of the policy issues of central importance to gastroenterology:
• Removing Barriers to the Colorectal Cancer Screening Act (HR1570/S668), which enjoys strong bipartisan support, would correct the “cost-sharing” problem of screening colonoscopies turning therapeutic (with polypectomy) for our Medicare patients, by waiving the coinsurance for screening colonoscopies – regardless of whether we remove polyps during these colonoscopies.
• Safe Step Act, HR2279, legislation introduced in the House, facilitates a common-sense and timely (72 hours or 24 hours if life-threatening) appeals process when our patients are subjected to step therapy (“fail first”) by insurers.
• Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2019, HR3107, legislation in the House, eases onerous prior authorization burdens by promoting an electronic prior authorization process, ensuring requests are approved by qualified medical professionals who have specialty-specific experience, and mandating that plans report their rates of delays and denials.
• NIH research funding facilitates innovative research and supports young investigators in our field.
Full of enthusiasm, our six-strong North Carolina contingent (pictured, L-R, Ziad Gellad, MD, MPH, AGAF; David Leiman, MD, MSPH; Animesh Jain, MD; Anne Finefrock Peery, MD; Lisa Gangarosa, MD, AGAF, chair of the AGA Government Affairs Committee; and Amit Patel, MD) met with the offices of Rep. David Price (D-N.C.), and both North Carolina Senators, Richard Burr (R) and Thom Tillis (R) on Capitol Hill to convey our “asks.”
At Price’s office in the stately Rayburn House Office Building, we thanked his team for cosponsorship of H.R. 1570 and H.R. 2279. We also discussed the importance of increasing research funding by the AGA’s goal of $2.5 billion for NIH for fiscal year 2020, noting that a majority of our delegation has received NIH funding for our training and/or research activities. We also encouraged Price’s office to cosponsor H.R. 3107, sharing our personal experiences about the administrative toll of the prior authorization process for obtaining appropriate and recommended medications for our patients – in my case, swallowed topical corticosteroids for patients with eosinophilic esophagitis.
We moved on to Sen. Tillis’s office, where we thanked his office for cosponsorship of S. 668 but encouraged his office to cosponsor upcoming companion Senate legislation for H.R. 2279 and H.R. 3107. Our colleague capably conveyed how an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patient he saw recently may require a colectomy due to delays in appropriate treatment stemming from these regulatory processes. We also showed Tillis’s office how NIH funding generates significant economic activity in North Carolina, supporting jobs in our state.
After a quick stop at the U.S. Senate gift shop in the basement to buy souvenirs for our kids, our last meeting was with Sen. Burr’s office. There, we also thanked his office for cosponsorship of S. 668 but encouraged him to sign the “Dear Colleague” letter that Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-OH, has circulated asking CMS to address the colonoscopy cost-sharing “loophole.” We discussed the importance of cosponsoring upcoming companion Senate legislation for H.R. 2279 and H.R. 3107, sharing stories from our clinical practices about how these regulatory burdens have delayed treatment for our patients.
You can get involved, too.
AGA Advocacy Day was a tremendous experience, but it is not the only way AGA members can get involved and take action. The AGA Advocacy website, gastro.org/advocacy, provides more information on multiple avenues for advocacy. These include an online advocacy tool for sending templated letters on these issues to your elected officials.
Perhaps now more than ever, it is crucial that we get involved to support gastroenterology and advocate for our patients.
Dr. Patel is assistant professor, division of gastroenterology, Duke University, Cary, N.C.; member, AGA Clinical Guidelines Committee.
A letter from Dr. Robert S. Sandler, MPH, AGAF, Chair of the AGA Research Foundation
Dear Colleagues,
Join me in supporting talented investigators through a personal gift to the AGA Research Foundation.
As a member of the GI community, you understand the physical, emotional and financial costs of digestive diseases. And you understand the value of research to advance patient care. The gap in federal funding for research continues to grow. Many well-qualified young investigators cannot get government funding. Gifts to the AGA Research Foundation this year directly supported 52 talented investigators. Despite this success, over 200 other innovative and promising research ideas went unfunded.
That’s why I’m asking for your help.
Securing the future of the field is no small task. Every dollar is a step forward in helping to spark the scientific breakthroughs of today so clinicians will have the tools to improve care tomorrow.
Everyone benefits from GI research developed by dedicated investigators.
I invite you to help the AGA Research Foundation continue our efforts to fund and retain talented GI scientists whose research will impact the future care of patients. Donate today at www.gastro.org/donate.
Thank you for your generosity. Best wishes for a happy, healthy holiday season and successful New Year.
Dear Colleagues,
Join me in supporting talented investigators through a personal gift to the AGA Research Foundation.
As a member of the GI community, you understand the physical, emotional and financial costs of digestive diseases. And you understand the value of research to advance patient care. The gap in federal funding for research continues to grow. Many well-qualified young investigators cannot get government funding. Gifts to the AGA Research Foundation this year directly supported 52 talented investigators. Despite this success, over 200 other innovative and promising research ideas went unfunded.
That’s why I’m asking for your help.
Securing the future of the field is no small task. Every dollar is a step forward in helping to spark the scientific breakthroughs of today so clinicians will have the tools to improve care tomorrow.
Everyone benefits from GI research developed by dedicated investigators.
I invite you to help the AGA Research Foundation continue our efforts to fund and retain talented GI scientists whose research will impact the future care of patients. Donate today at www.gastro.org/donate.
Thank you for your generosity. Best wishes for a happy, healthy holiday season and successful New Year.
Dear Colleagues,
Join me in supporting talented investigators through a personal gift to the AGA Research Foundation.
As a member of the GI community, you understand the physical, emotional and financial costs of digestive diseases. And you understand the value of research to advance patient care. The gap in federal funding for research continues to grow. Many well-qualified young investigators cannot get government funding. Gifts to the AGA Research Foundation this year directly supported 52 talented investigators. Despite this success, over 200 other innovative and promising research ideas went unfunded.
That’s why I’m asking for your help.
Securing the future of the field is no small task. Every dollar is a step forward in helping to spark the scientific breakthroughs of today so clinicians will have the tools to improve care tomorrow.
Everyone benefits from GI research developed by dedicated investigators.
I invite you to help the AGA Research Foundation continue our efforts to fund and retain talented GI scientists whose research will impact the future care of patients. Donate today at www.gastro.org/donate.
Thank you for your generosity. Best wishes for a happy, healthy holiday season and successful New Year.
Top AGA Community patient cases
Physicians with difficult patient scenarios regularly bring their questions to the AGA Community to seek advice from colleagues about therapy and disease management options, best practices, and diagnoses. In case you missed it, here are the most popular clinical discussions shared in the forum recently:
1. Severe ulcerative colitis # IBD – A 41-year-old female patient with ulcerative colitis had a flare that didn’t improve with adalimumab and prednisone, and was admitted to the hospital with bloody stools and abdominal pain. The GI community discussed considerations for next steps and other tests to consider.
2. Unexplained diarrhea – Following the eQ&A with an AGA guideline coauthor on chronic diarrhea, this popular case follows a celiac disease patient on a gluten-free diet who continues to have significant diarrhea and fatigue.
3. Difficult ERCP – How would you handle an ERCP where the papilla is small and in a tricky location? View photos from your colleague’s scope and share your advice with the GI community.
Access these clinical cases and more discussions at https://community.gastro.org/discussions.
Physicians with difficult patient scenarios regularly bring their questions to the AGA Community to seek advice from colleagues about therapy and disease management options, best practices, and diagnoses. In case you missed it, here are the most popular clinical discussions shared in the forum recently:
1. Severe ulcerative colitis # IBD – A 41-year-old female patient with ulcerative colitis had a flare that didn’t improve with adalimumab and prednisone, and was admitted to the hospital with bloody stools and abdominal pain. The GI community discussed considerations for next steps and other tests to consider.
2. Unexplained diarrhea – Following the eQ&A with an AGA guideline coauthor on chronic diarrhea, this popular case follows a celiac disease patient on a gluten-free diet who continues to have significant diarrhea and fatigue.
3. Difficult ERCP – How would you handle an ERCP where the papilla is small and in a tricky location? View photos from your colleague’s scope and share your advice with the GI community.
Access these clinical cases and more discussions at https://community.gastro.org/discussions.
Physicians with difficult patient scenarios regularly bring their questions to the AGA Community to seek advice from colleagues about therapy and disease management options, best practices, and diagnoses. In case you missed it, here are the most popular clinical discussions shared in the forum recently:
1. Severe ulcerative colitis # IBD – A 41-year-old female patient with ulcerative colitis had a flare that didn’t improve with adalimumab and prednisone, and was admitted to the hospital with bloody stools and abdominal pain. The GI community discussed considerations for next steps and other tests to consider.
2. Unexplained diarrhea – Following the eQ&A with an AGA guideline coauthor on chronic diarrhea, this popular case follows a celiac disease patient on a gluten-free diet who continues to have significant diarrhea and fatigue.
3. Difficult ERCP – How would you handle an ERCP where the papilla is small and in a tricky location? View photos from your colleague’s scope and share your advice with the GI community.
Access these clinical cases and more discussions at https://community.gastro.org/discussions.
FDA transition to disposable component duodenoscopes — talking points for your patients
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released a safety communication recommending duodenoscope manufacturers and health care facilities move away from using duodenoscopes with fixed endcaps to those with disposable components that include disposable endcaps – or to fully disposable duodenoscopes when they become available. This announcement may have already produced some questions among your patients when it comes to their procedures that use a duodenoscope, such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).
Talking points:
• Duodenoscopes are an important tool used during an ERCP to help localize and treat abnormal issues in your bile duct system and pancreas, and possibly help you avoid surgery.
• The complex design of duodenoscopes can sometimes result in bacteria remaining in a small portion of the duodenoscope (the “elevator channel”) even after careful cleaning according to approved instructions. However, the chance of getting an identified “superbug infection” with a duodenoscope is very low, currently estimated at 1 per 20,000 ERCPs performed in more than 650,000 ERCP procedures each year in the U.S. FDA continues to work with duodenoscope manufacturers to provide strict guidelines for cleaning and disinfection of these tools.
• The switch to new duodenoscopes with disposable components will be slow and orderly to make sure that there are enough duodenoscopes to perform ERCPs so that patients who need this often life-saving procedure will still have access.
• Do not cancel or delay any planned procedure without first discussing the benefits and risks with me or another health care provider, as delaying the procedure and alternatives like surgery or radiologic intervention may be riskier than a timely ERCP.
• The esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) procedure does not use the same tool that is used for ERCP. EGD uses a different endoscope than ERCP and has not been shown to have the same risk of infection because there is no “elevator channel.”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released a safety communication recommending duodenoscope manufacturers and health care facilities move away from using duodenoscopes with fixed endcaps to those with disposable components that include disposable endcaps – or to fully disposable duodenoscopes when they become available. This announcement may have already produced some questions among your patients when it comes to their procedures that use a duodenoscope, such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).
Talking points:
• Duodenoscopes are an important tool used during an ERCP to help localize and treat abnormal issues in your bile duct system and pancreas, and possibly help you avoid surgery.
• The complex design of duodenoscopes can sometimes result in bacteria remaining in a small portion of the duodenoscope (the “elevator channel”) even after careful cleaning according to approved instructions. However, the chance of getting an identified “superbug infection” with a duodenoscope is very low, currently estimated at 1 per 20,000 ERCPs performed in more than 650,000 ERCP procedures each year in the U.S. FDA continues to work with duodenoscope manufacturers to provide strict guidelines for cleaning and disinfection of these tools.
• The switch to new duodenoscopes with disposable components will be slow and orderly to make sure that there are enough duodenoscopes to perform ERCPs so that patients who need this often life-saving procedure will still have access.
• Do not cancel or delay any planned procedure without first discussing the benefits and risks with me or another health care provider, as delaying the procedure and alternatives like surgery or radiologic intervention may be riskier than a timely ERCP.
• The esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) procedure does not use the same tool that is used for ERCP. EGD uses a different endoscope than ERCP and has not been shown to have the same risk of infection because there is no “elevator channel.”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released a safety communication recommending duodenoscope manufacturers and health care facilities move away from using duodenoscopes with fixed endcaps to those with disposable components that include disposable endcaps – or to fully disposable duodenoscopes when they become available. This announcement may have already produced some questions among your patients when it comes to their procedures that use a duodenoscope, such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).
Talking points:
• Duodenoscopes are an important tool used during an ERCP to help localize and treat abnormal issues in your bile duct system and pancreas, and possibly help you avoid surgery.
• The complex design of duodenoscopes can sometimes result in bacteria remaining in a small portion of the duodenoscope (the “elevator channel”) even after careful cleaning according to approved instructions. However, the chance of getting an identified “superbug infection” with a duodenoscope is very low, currently estimated at 1 per 20,000 ERCPs performed in more than 650,000 ERCP procedures each year in the U.S. FDA continues to work with duodenoscope manufacturers to provide strict guidelines for cleaning and disinfection of these tools.
• The switch to new duodenoscopes with disposable components will be slow and orderly to make sure that there are enough duodenoscopes to perform ERCPs so that patients who need this often life-saving procedure will still have access.
• Do not cancel or delay any planned procedure without first discussing the benefits and risks with me or another health care provider, as delaying the procedure and alternatives like surgery or radiologic intervention may be riskier than a timely ERCP.
• The esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) procedure does not use the same tool that is used for ERCP. EGD uses a different endoscope than ERCP and has not been shown to have the same risk of infection because there is no “elevator channel.”
Talking to your patients about ranitidine
The FDA recently released several safety alerts on ranitidine formulations, including the brand-name drug Zantac, which were found to contain a nitrosamine impurity called N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) at low levels. NDMA is classified as a probable human carcinogen (a substance that could cause cancer) based on results from laboratory tests and animal studies. NDMA is a known environmental contaminant and found in water and foods, including meats, dairy products, and vegetables. This contaminant is similar to what was recently found in losartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker used to treat hypertension, that was recalled by the FDA.
The FDA is continuing to test ranitidine products from multiple manufacturers and is assessing the potential effect on patients who have been taking ranitidine.
With the voluntary recall of 14 lots of prescription ranitidine capsules distributed by Sandoz Inc., as well as the voluntary recall of over-the-counter (OTC) ranitidine tablets (75 mg and 150 mg), labeled by Walgreens, Walmart, and Rite-Aid and manufactured by Apotex Corp, your patients might be asking a lot of questions about whether to continue to using their medicines and what alternatives are available.
Talking to your patients
The FDA safety alerts have been covered by various media outlets since early September. This may cause your patients to question whether they should stay on or start using ranitidine products. When discussing the recall with your patients, let them know that:
• Ranitidine is an H2 blocker (antihistamine) – available OTC and in prescription strength – used to prevent and relieve heartburn associated with acid indigestion and sour stomach. It reduces stomach acid and works longer but not as quickly as antacids.
• Not all ranitidine medicines marketed in the United States are being recalled and the FDA is not recommending individuals stop taking all ranitidine medicines at this time.
• It might be prudent to hold off taking Zantac until a final FDA conclusion is released.
• Multiple drugs are approved for the same or similar uses as ranitidine. Other treatment options are available, both prescription and OTC, for patients who are concerned about ranitidine.
• Life-style modifications may reduce or eliminate the need for heartburn drugs for long-term use. These may include weight loss, avoiding tobacco, or a change in eating patterns. Share AGA’s patient education content on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) for more tips for your patients.
The FDA recently released several safety alerts on ranitidine formulations, including the brand-name drug Zantac, which were found to contain a nitrosamine impurity called N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) at low levels. NDMA is classified as a probable human carcinogen (a substance that could cause cancer) based on results from laboratory tests and animal studies. NDMA is a known environmental contaminant and found in water and foods, including meats, dairy products, and vegetables. This contaminant is similar to what was recently found in losartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker used to treat hypertension, that was recalled by the FDA.
The FDA is continuing to test ranitidine products from multiple manufacturers and is assessing the potential effect on patients who have been taking ranitidine.
With the voluntary recall of 14 lots of prescription ranitidine capsules distributed by Sandoz Inc., as well as the voluntary recall of over-the-counter (OTC) ranitidine tablets (75 mg and 150 mg), labeled by Walgreens, Walmart, and Rite-Aid and manufactured by Apotex Corp, your patients might be asking a lot of questions about whether to continue to using their medicines and what alternatives are available.
Talking to your patients
The FDA safety alerts have been covered by various media outlets since early September. This may cause your patients to question whether they should stay on or start using ranitidine products. When discussing the recall with your patients, let them know that:
• Ranitidine is an H2 blocker (antihistamine) – available OTC and in prescription strength – used to prevent and relieve heartburn associated with acid indigestion and sour stomach. It reduces stomach acid and works longer but not as quickly as antacids.
• Not all ranitidine medicines marketed in the United States are being recalled and the FDA is not recommending individuals stop taking all ranitidine medicines at this time.
• It might be prudent to hold off taking Zantac until a final FDA conclusion is released.
• Multiple drugs are approved for the same or similar uses as ranitidine. Other treatment options are available, both prescription and OTC, for patients who are concerned about ranitidine.
• Life-style modifications may reduce or eliminate the need for heartburn drugs for long-term use. These may include weight loss, avoiding tobacco, or a change in eating patterns. Share AGA’s patient education content on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) for more tips for your patients.
The FDA recently released several safety alerts on ranitidine formulations, including the brand-name drug Zantac, which were found to contain a nitrosamine impurity called N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) at low levels. NDMA is classified as a probable human carcinogen (a substance that could cause cancer) based on results from laboratory tests and animal studies. NDMA is a known environmental contaminant and found in water and foods, including meats, dairy products, and vegetables. This contaminant is similar to what was recently found in losartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker used to treat hypertension, that was recalled by the FDA.
The FDA is continuing to test ranitidine products from multiple manufacturers and is assessing the potential effect on patients who have been taking ranitidine.
With the voluntary recall of 14 lots of prescription ranitidine capsules distributed by Sandoz Inc., as well as the voluntary recall of over-the-counter (OTC) ranitidine tablets (75 mg and 150 mg), labeled by Walgreens, Walmart, and Rite-Aid and manufactured by Apotex Corp, your patients might be asking a lot of questions about whether to continue to using their medicines and what alternatives are available.
Talking to your patients
The FDA safety alerts have been covered by various media outlets since early September. This may cause your patients to question whether they should stay on or start using ranitidine products. When discussing the recall with your patients, let them know that:
• Ranitidine is an H2 blocker (antihistamine) – available OTC and in prescription strength – used to prevent and relieve heartburn associated with acid indigestion and sour stomach. It reduces stomach acid and works longer but not as quickly as antacids.
• Not all ranitidine medicines marketed in the United States are being recalled and the FDA is not recommending individuals stop taking all ranitidine medicines at this time.
• It might be prudent to hold off taking Zantac until a final FDA conclusion is released.
• Multiple drugs are approved for the same or similar uses as ranitidine. Other treatment options are available, both prescription and OTC, for patients who are concerned about ranitidine.
• Life-style modifications may reduce or eliminate the need for heartburn drugs for long-term use. These may include weight loss, avoiding tobacco, or a change in eating patterns. Share AGA’s patient education content on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) for more tips for your patients.
Use AmazonSmile for Your Holiday Shopping
As the holiday shopping season approaches, the SVS Foundation would like to remind you to set up your AmazonSmile account and designate the SVS Foundation as your charity. It’s easy to begin. Start at smile.amazon.com and search ‘Society for Vascular Surgery Foundation.’ Once you choose the Foundation, start shopping! Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases. Every little bit makes a difference. Questions? Reach out to [email protected].
As the holiday shopping season approaches, the SVS Foundation would like to remind you to set up your AmazonSmile account and designate the SVS Foundation as your charity. It’s easy to begin. Start at smile.amazon.com and search ‘Society for Vascular Surgery Foundation.’ Once you choose the Foundation, start shopping! Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases. Every little bit makes a difference. Questions? Reach out to [email protected].
As the holiday shopping season approaches, the SVS Foundation would like to remind you to set up your AmazonSmile account and designate the SVS Foundation as your charity. It’s easy to begin. Start at smile.amazon.com and search ‘Society for Vascular Surgery Foundation.’ Once you choose the Foundation, start shopping! Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases. Every little bit makes a difference. Questions? Reach out to [email protected].
SVS Members: Pay Your Dues!
By renewing your membership, you continue to support the critical work the Society does throughout the year, and you contribute directly to the ongoing improvement of vascular health. Renewing will also provide you continued access to all membership benefits, including access to peer-reviewed journals, your members-only community on SVSConnect, and discounts on meetings and educational products.
Avoid a lapse in your SVS membership and loss of benefits. Pay your open invoice online by logging on to your SVS member page. Pay your dues here.
By renewing your membership, you continue to support the critical work the Society does throughout the year, and you contribute directly to the ongoing improvement of vascular health. Renewing will also provide you continued access to all membership benefits, including access to peer-reviewed journals, your members-only community on SVSConnect, and discounts on meetings and educational products.
Avoid a lapse in your SVS membership and loss of benefits. Pay your open invoice online by logging on to your SVS member page. Pay your dues here.
By renewing your membership, you continue to support the critical work the Society does throughout the year, and you contribute directly to the ongoing improvement of vascular health. Renewing will also provide you continued access to all membership benefits, including access to peer-reviewed journals, your members-only community on SVSConnect, and discounts on meetings and educational products.
Avoid a lapse in your SVS membership and loss of benefits. Pay your open invoice online by logging on to your SVS member page. Pay your dues here.