Less vain and more vein: Evaluating the perceptions of venous disease amongst the vascular surgery community

Our biases permeate the fabric of our very being, as they weave their way into our training and practice. It is clear that complex aortic work is definitely in vogue and “in,” and, well… treating veins gets a bad rap.…
Can you count the ‘monkeys’ on your back?

Periodically, when under pressure at work, and sometimes at home, I would think about what I could do to free up more time for myself and the family. How I could prioritize or drop tasks that were unimportant. There were…
From the editor: Sex, lies, and carotid stents

First, a disclaimer. This commentary is woefully short of sex-related content. Not even the wholesome gender-based outcomes stuff. So, if that key term brought your internet search here, feel free to press on with your illicit journeys my friend. Now,…
Expiation, Karl Wallenda, Oppenheimer and us

On March 22, 1978, Karl Wallenda went up on a high wire in Puerto Rico strung between two high-rise buildings. There was no safety net. The winds were blowing hard. A crowd was massed below, awaiting the event. As a…
The price of a cup of coffee

In the wake of the coverage of inappropriate vascular interventions in the mainstream press, guest editorialist Adam Tanious, MD, tackles the thorny issue of interactions with industry “reps”—particularly among younger surgeons. Many of us in the surgical community have had…
The Golden Larva syndrome: Is it real?

Failure is part of the process that leads to success. Occasional failures may sting but we must recognize the adage that failure is a “bruise, not a tattoo.” I knew a mid-career faculty member some years ago who was rapidly…
BEST-CLI vs. BASIL-2: Different questions yield different answers

Medical editor Malachi Sheahan III, MD, takes a look at seemingly conflicting results from the landmark BEST-CLI and BASIL-2 trials, and asks what they really reveal. This past April, BASIL-2 chief investigator Andrew Bradbury, MD, presented trial results at the…
We can honor the past without living in it

Malachi Sheahan III, MD, peels back the layers on why a decision by the Southern Association for Vascular Surgery (SAVS) to replace its signature emblem is the right one. Imagine you are considering moving to a country where you will…
Intentional mentorship and pushing beyond representation

Chicago medical student Maria Paz, BS, discusses intentional mentorship—and why she believes it matters. When I started medical school, I never imagined that the most difficult part would be convincing myself that I deserved to be there. I remember at…
ABCs for the treatment of lower-extremity acute DVTs

Ashish Gupta, MD, outlines his ABCs for confronting and treating patients with acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremity, and how he developed his dictums. A is for “anticoagulation” for not more than six months of duration. Rationale:…

