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Oversized balloon angioplasty technique ‘safe and effective’ for AV fistula maturation
A retrospective analysis published in the Journal of Vascular Access (JVA) has shown that the oversized balloon angioplasty technique to assist arteriovenous (AV) fistula maturation is safe and effective—and allows cannulation of the fistula within hours or days of the procedure, decreasing…
Introducing patient-reported outcomes into the VQI
Vascular specialists have long recognized that there is more to the treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) than the immediate procedural success and early outcomes. The patient experience should not only be measured in clinical outcomes such as patency or…
Patient-reported outcomes: What are they and why should I care about them?
SVS Performance Committee members Mounir Haurani, MD, and Jose Almeida, MD, weigh up the importance of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and how they can be effectively deployed in practice. MH: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are direct reports from the patient of their…
With Foundation help, more vascular care headed to Oklahoma
There are new vistas in Oklahoma for those in need of vascular care. That’s “vista” as in Vascular Volunteers In Service To All, or VISTA, a new initiative of the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) Foundation whose mission is “to…
The role of PACs in political influence
Let’s be clear here: Political action committees (PACs) are a good thing. Whether or not you like the concept, they create an opportunity for more people to be involved in the political process. Contributions by PACs have increased dramatically over the…
Endologix receives FDA Breakthrough Device designation for ChEVAS system
Endologix announced the company’s ChEVAS (chimney endovascular aneurysm sealing) system has been granted a Breakthrough Device designation from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The ChEVAS system is an investigational endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) sealing therapy designed to combine the Nellix 3.5 endograft…
Corner Stitch: Acing the final training years
In academia, the start of summer brings about new beginnings and a changing of the guard. Chief residents and senior fellows graduate and start new jobs. This month, we decided to pick some of their brains to share their lived…
Medicare: Surgical Care Coalition urges Congress to halt proposed cuts to care
The proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for calendar year 2022 (CY2022) released Tuesday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) fails to address pending cuts to surgical care “and therefore continues to threaten patient care by reaffirming these…
The vasculature united: Bringing together competing specialties for better patient care
Incoming Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) President Ali AbuRahma, MD, knows the topic of this year’s E. Stanley Crawford Critical Issues Forum at the Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM) might make him as many enemies as it will friends. “You are…
#SVSTweetChat hits high levels of engagement
Since the inaugural #SVSTweetChat that covered early career advice went live on Twitter in April, the monthly social media initiative has proven to be a valuable and interactive resource for the vascular surgeon community. It even inspired an episode of…