In 2021, the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) and the American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) established a task force dedicated to optimizing pediatric vascular care through a multidisciplinary educational approach. The task force created a Pediatric Vascular Surgery Interest Group, and now, following three previously completed recorded sessions, the task force will host its fourth Pediatric Vascular Surgery Interest Group session at the 2024 Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM 2024) that will tackle pediatric vascular trauma topics.
Scheduled for Wednesday, June 19, this case-based session will cover pediatric vascular trauma’s diagnostic and technical considerations. Session discussions will include diagnostic imaging for children that consider contrast media and radiation exposure, technical aspects of open surgery, as well as growing endovascular options and the management of iatrogenic vascular trauma. Additionally, the session aims to raise awareness among practitioners about supportive care processes and specialized resources needed for pediatric vascular trauma patients and their families, particularly considering social challenges such as domestic and gun violence.
Dawn Coleman, MD, division chief at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and SVS co-chair of the task force, highlights the practical benefits of attending, stating, “this session will equip attendees with valuable insights and practical guidance, empowering them to enhance patient outcomes and address pressing issues in pediatric vascular care.”
To facilitate ongoing education and resource sharing, SVS staff on the task force have launched a website featuring recordings of past sessions. These include “Extracorporeal life support: Cannulation strategies, decannulation strategies and long-term follow-up,” “Pediatric vascular trauma” and “Developmental vascular disease.” For more information, visit vascular.org/SVSAPSAtaskforce.
The most recent recording on developmental vascular disease highlighted the task force’s commitment to multidisciplinary discourse on developmental vascular anomalies. Pediatric surgeon and task force member Sandra Tomita, MD, emphasized the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in the management of these anomalies, setting the stage for collaborative case presentations and discussions featuring experts such as Francine Blei, MD, and Dana LeBlanc, MD. Multidisciplinary case presentations and discussions, labeled “How We Do It,” showcased innovative approaches and best practices from institutions nationwide where experts shared insights into their respective areas of expertise.
SVS co-chair John White, MD, chair of surgery at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois, underscores the task force’s dedication to advancing pediatric vascular care: “By identifying key areas for education, guideline development and training, we aim to elevate the standard of care for pediatric vascular patients.”
The task force is also working on a collaborative special issue on pediatric vascular surgery, which will be co-published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery (JVS) and the Journal of Pediatric Surgery. “The special issue co-published in the journals will be a landmark resource, bringing together cutting-edge research and clinical expertise to transform pediatric vascular care,” said Coleman.
“Our partnership allows us to harness vascular and pediatric surgery expertise, ensuring comprehensive and effective care for pediatric patients with vascular conditions. By disseminating our findings through journals, we aim to reach a wider audience, ultimately improving outcomes for children with vascular issues worldwide.”
