The most-read Vascular Specialist stories in October covered an investigation of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) timing presented at the Eastern Vascular Society (EVS) meeting in Philadelphia (Sept. 29–Oct. 1); the editor-in-chief’s open letter to the National Rifle Association; tips on how to take feedback on board as a vascular trainee; and the presidential addresses from two recent regional society meetings that set out ideas for helping vascular surgery thrive as a specialty.
1. SVS officer elections 2022: A glimpse into the electorate
The SVS Executive Board highlights details of the most recent Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) elections to inform members and further strengthen the process.
2. EVS 2022: Study suggests lower rates of aortic rupture, mortality after TEVAR for uncomplicated TBAD in subacute phase compared to medical management
TEVAR carried out for uncomplicated type B aortic dissections (TBAD) saw worse mortality and aortic-related outcomes when performed in the acute phase compared to those treated in the subacute phase and those managed medically.
3. An open letter to the National Rifle Association
4. NESVS 2022: Study illustrates relationship between increased distance from medical center and higher treatment costs among complex aortic patients
Research detailing that patients traveling farther for complex aortic surgery have higher procedural costs, postoperative imaging costs, and comprehensive one-year costs was among the new science being presented at the 2022 annual meeting of the New England Society for Vascular Surgery (NESVS).
5. Signal-to-noise ratio: Thoughts on fine-tuning feedback during vascular surgery training
Christopher Audu, MD, recently took the Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation (RPVI) exam. He tells how there are multiple voices in the ears and heads of vascular trainees, and how to decipher this overwhelming and/or contradictory feedback.
6. Prepare to submit research for VAM, VRIC 2023
The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) wants members’ research on vascular disease for the 2023 Vascular Research Initiatives Conference (VRIC) and the 2023 Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM).
7. Regional vascular presidents measure state of specialty
Vincent Rowe, MD, and Raghu Motaganahalli, MD, delivered Presidential Addresses at the Western Vascular Society (WVS) and the Midwestern Vascular Surgical Society (MVSS) that spelled out ways in which vascular surgery can advance—and thrive.
8. Interacting with EMR best practice advisory ‘significantly’ improves AAA screening rates
Positively interacting with best practice advisory notifications is correlated with an increased rate of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening, according to an analysis of all patients who triggered these communications alerts in an electronic medical record (EMR) system at a single tertiary medical center.
9. Terumo Aortic announces new technology add-on payment for Thoraflex Hybrid device in US
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has granted approval of a new technology add-on payment (NTAP) for Terumo Aortic’s Thoraflex Hybrid device—used to treat aortic arch disease—under the inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS).
10. Abre stent data show ‘struggle to maintain patency’ among post-thrombotic syndrome patients
The Abre venous stent demonstrated three-year primary patency rates of 97.1%, 76.5% and 70.4% respectively for non-thrombotic iliac vein lesion (NIVL), acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) patient populations within the ABRE clinical study.