News from the SVS

“CLINICAL CORRELATION OF SUCCESS AND ACUTE THROMBOTIC COMPLICATIONS OF LOWER EXTREMITY ENDOVENOUS THERMAL ABLATION.” Journal of Vascular Surgery Venous and Lymphatic Disorders, January 2018

A large single center experience with endovenous thermal ablation reveals risk factors for thrombotic complications.

Minimally invasive techniques for treating reflux disease in the saphenous system have greatly improved the quality of life and comfort of those suffering with chronic venous disease and more advanced venous insufficiency.  Painful procedures of the past, sometimes including hospital stays, have largely been replaced by safe and efficacious office procedures (lasting often less than an hour) with minimal subsequent activity restrictions.

Despite these obvious advantages, these therapies do have a very low but definite risk of thrombotic complications, including endovenous heat-induced thrombosis (EHIT) superficial venous thrombosis (SVT) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT).  EHIT includes development of a blood clot at the junction of one of the treated saphenous veins and the femoral or the popliteal vein.

While major DVT and pulmonary embolism are extremely rare, the diagnosis of EHIT may require a period of anticoagulation as well as follow-up visits and studies.  Further, acute SVT can be painful for several weeks following the procedure.  As such, further understanding the risk factors for these complications will allow therapists to better inform patients as to their specific risks for developing them.

As reported in the January 2018 edition of the Journal of Vascular Surgery: Venous and Lymphatic Disorders, researchers from Total Vascular Care and NYU Lutheran Medical Center led by Afsha Aurshina, MBBS, evaluated their large single center experience treating multiple vein types using both radiofrequency (RFA) and endovenous laser (EVLA) ablation techniques.  They retrospectively studied the outcomes of 1811 procedures performed on 808 patients from 2012-2014.  The aim of the study was to define better the success and thrombotic complications of these procedures with respect to technique and vein type.

Overall success (defined as absence of reflux in the targeted vein by post-operative duplex) rates included:

• RFA                                              98.4% (excluding perforating vein)
• EVLA                                            98.1%
• Great saphenous (GSV)                 98.5%
• Lesser saphenous (LSV)                98.2%
• Accessory saphenous (ASV)          97.2%
• Perforator (PV)                             82.4%

With regards to thrombotic complications, the authors reported EHIT rates of:

• Class 1-4                                    5.9%
• Class 2-4                                    1.16%

Acute superficial thrombosis rates included:

• Overall                                                4.6%
• RFA                                                     7.7%
• EVLA                                                  11.4% (no difference in multi-factor analysis)
• GSV                                                   11.8%
• LSV                                                     5.5%
• ASV                                                    6.5%
• PV                                                      2.4%

“Our study demonstrates that there is no significant difference in the success rate of RFA and EVLA in the treatment of venous reflux for GSV, SSV, and ASV,” notes first author Aurshina.  “We found an acceptably low incidence of clinically significant thrombotic complication rates for EHIT and acute superficial thrombosis, with only a 1.16% risk of Class 2-4 EHIT, that may require short term anticoagulation.  We noted risk factors for these complications, after multi-factor analysis, include higher vein diameter and type of vein, with the latter being the most important.”

Large experiences such as these are important to understand the true incidence of these complications and how practitioners might tailor their consent process with their patients.

To download the complete article (link available free from 12/14/2017 through 2/28/2018),

 click:  http://vsweb.org/JVSVL-EVTA
 

For information your patients may be interested in, click:

Regarding Varicose Veins:

https://vascular.org/patient-resources/vascular-conditions/varicose-veins

Regarding Deep Venous Thrombosis:

https://vascular.org/patient-resources/vascular-conditions/deep-vein-thrombosis

“CLINICAL CORRELATION OF SUCCESS AND ACUTE THROMBOTIC COMPLICATIONS OF LOWER EXTREMITY ENDOVENOUS THERMAL ABLATION.” Journal of Vascular Surgery Venous and Lymphatic Disorders, January 2018

A large single center experience with endovenous thermal ablation reveals risk factors for thrombotic complications.

Minimally invasive techniques for treating reflux disease in the saphenous system have greatly improved the quality of life and comfort of those suffering with chronic venous disease and more advanced venous insufficiency.  Painful procedures of the past, sometimes including hospital stays, have largely been replaced by safe and efficacious office procedures (lasting often less than an hour) with minimal subsequent activity restrictions.

Despite these obvious advantages, these therapies do have a very low but definite risk of thrombotic complications, including endovenous heat-induced thrombosis (EHIT) superficial venous thrombosis (SVT) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT).  EHIT includes development of a blood clot at the junction of one of the treated saphenous veins and the femoral or the popliteal vein.

While major DVT and pulmonary embolism are extremely rare, the diagnosis of EHIT may require a period of anticoagulation as well as follow-up visits and studies.  Further, acute SVT can be painful for several weeks following the procedure.  As such, further understanding the risk factors for these complications will allow therapists to better inform patients as to their specific risks for developing them.

As reported in the January 2018 edition of the Journal of Vascular Surgery: Venous and Lymphatic Disorders, researchers from Total Vascular Care and NYU Lutheran Medical Center led by Afsha Aurshina, MBBS, evaluated their large single center experience treating multiple vein types using both radiofrequency (RFA) and endovenous laser (EVLA) ablation techniques.  They retrospectively studied the outcomes of 1811 procedures performed on 808 patients from 2012-2014.  The aim of the study was to define better the success and thrombotic complications of these procedures with respect to technique and vein type.

Overall success (defined as absence of reflux in the targeted vein by post-operative duplex) rates included:

• RFA                                              98.4% (excluding perforating vein)
• EVLA                                            98.1%
• Great saphenous (GSV)                 98.5%
• Lesser saphenous (LSV)                98.2%
• Accessory saphenous (ASV)          97.2%
• Perforator (PV)                             82.4%

With regards to thrombotic complications, the authors reported EHIT rates of:

• Class 1-4                                    5.9%
• Class 2-4                                    1.16%

Acute superficial thrombosis rates included:

• Overall                                                4.6%
• RFA                                                     7.7%
• EVLA                                                  11.4% (no difference in multi-factor analysis)
• GSV                                                   11.8%
• LSV                                                     5.5%
• ASV                                                    6.5%
• PV                                                      2.4%

“Our study demonstrates that there is no significant difference in the success rate of RFA and EVLA in the treatment of venous reflux for GSV, SSV, and ASV,” notes first author Aurshina.  “We found an acceptably low incidence of clinically significant thrombotic complication rates for EHIT and acute superficial thrombosis, with only a 1.16% risk of Class 2-4 EHIT, that may require short term anticoagulation.  We noted risk factors for these complications, after multi-factor analysis, include higher vein diameter and type of vein, with the latter being the most important.”

Large experiences such as these are important to understand the true incidence of these complications and how practitioners might tailor their consent process with their patients.

To download the complete article (link available free from 12/14/2017 through 2/28/2018),

 click:  http://vsweb.org/JVSVL-EVTA
 

For information your patients may be interested in, click:

Regarding Varicose Veins:

https://vascular.org/patient-resources/vascular-conditions/varicose-veins

Regarding Deep Venous Thrombosis:

https://vascular.org/patient-resources/vascular-conditions/deep-vein-thrombosis

“CLINICAL CORRELATION OF SUCCESS AND ACUTE THROMBOTIC COMPLICATIONS OF LOWER EXTREMITY ENDOVENOUS THERMAL ABLATION.” Journal of Vascular Surgery Venous and Lymphatic Disorders, January 2018

A large single center experience with endovenous thermal ablation reveals risk factors for thrombotic complications.

Minimally invasive techniques for treating reflux disease in the saphenous system have greatly improved the quality of life and comfort of those suffering with chronic venous disease and more advanced venous insufficiency.  Painful procedures of the past, sometimes including hospital stays, have largely been replaced by safe and efficacious office procedures (lasting often less than an hour) with minimal subsequent activity restrictions.

Despite these obvious advantages, these therapies do have a very low but definite risk of thrombotic complications, including endovenous heat-induced thrombosis (EHIT) superficial venous thrombosis (SVT) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT).  EHIT includes development of a blood clot at the junction of one of the treated saphenous veins and the femoral or the popliteal vein.

While major DVT and pulmonary embolism are extremely rare, the diagnosis of EHIT may require a period of anticoagulation as well as follow-up visits and studies.  Further, acute SVT can be painful for several weeks following the procedure.  As such, further understanding the risk factors for these complications will allow therapists to better inform patients as to their specific risks for developing them.

As reported in the January 2018 edition of the Journal of Vascular Surgery: Venous and Lymphatic Disorders, researchers from Total Vascular Care and NYU Lutheran Medical Center led by Afsha Aurshina, MBBS, evaluated their large single center experience treating multiple vein types using both radiofrequency (RFA) and endovenous laser (EVLA) ablation techniques.  They retrospectively studied the outcomes of 1811 procedures performed on 808 patients from 2012-2014.  The aim of the study was to define better the success and thrombotic complications of these procedures with respect to technique and vein type.

Overall success (defined as absence of reflux in the targeted vein by post-operative duplex) rates included:

• RFA                                              98.4% (excluding perforating vein)
• EVLA                                            98.1%
• Great saphenous (GSV)                 98.5%
• Lesser saphenous (LSV)                98.2%
• Accessory saphenous (ASV)          97.2%
• Perforator (PV)                             82.4%

With regards to thrombotic complications, the authors reported EHIT rates of:

• Class 1-4                                    5.9%
• Class 2-4                                    1.16%

Acute superficial thrombosis rates included:

• Overall                                                4.6%
• RFA                                                     7.7%
• EVLA                                                  11.4% (no difference in multi-factor analysis)
• GSV                                                   11.8%
• LSV                                                     5.5%
• ASV                                                    6.5%
• PV                                                      2.4%

“Our study demonstrates that there is no significant difference in the success rate of RFA and EVLA in the treatment of venous reflux for GSV, SSV, and ASV,” notes first author Aurshina.  “We found an acceptably low incidence of clinically significant thrombotic complication rates for EHIT and acute superficial thrombosis, with only a 1.16% risk of Class 2-4 EHIT, that may require short term anticoagulation.  We noted risk factors for these complications, after multi-factor analysis, include higher vein diameter and type of vein, with the latter being the most important.”

Large experiences such as these are important to understand the true incidence of these complications and how practitioners might tailor their consent process with their patients.

To download the complete article (link available free from 12/14/2017 through 2/28/2018),

 click:  http://vsweb.org/JVSVL-EVTA
 

For information your patients may be interested in, click:

Regarding Varicose Veins:

https://vascular.org/patient-resources/vascular-conditions/varicose-veins

Regarding Deep Venous Thrombosis:

https://vascular.org/patient-resources/vascular-conditions/deep-vein-thrombosis

Registration is now open for the Vascular Research Initiatives Conference, to be held Thursday, May 9, in San Francisco. Abstracts for VRIC are due Wednesday, Jan. 10. Learn more about VRIC, and submit your abstracts here. 

Registration is now open for the Vascular Research Initiatives Conference, to be held Thursday, May 9, in San Francisco. Abstracts for VRIC are due Wednesday, Jan. 10. Learn more about VRIC, and submit your abstracts here. 

Registration is now open for the Vascular Research Initiatives Conference, to be held Thursday, May 9, in San Francisco. Abstracts for VRIC are due Wednesday, Jan. 10. Learn more about VRIC, and submit your abstracts here. 

Have you put off paying your 2018 SVS membership dues? Don’t wait too much longer! Access to the Journal of Vascular Surgery suite of publications expires on Jan. 15 for those who have not yet paid their 2018 dues. Renew today.

Have you put off paying your 2018 SVS membership dues? Don’t wait too much longer! Access to the Journal of Vascular Surgery suite of publications expires on Jan. 15 for those who have not yet paid their 2018 dues. Renew today.

Have you put off paying your 2018 SVS membership dues? Don’t wait too much longer! Access to the Journal of Vascular Surgery suite of publications expires on Jan. 15 for those who have not yet paid their 2018 dues. Renew today.

Abstracts are due Wednesday, Jan. 17, for the 2018 Vascular Annual Meeting, set for June 20-23 in Boston. Guidelines, submission policies and general information on VAM are available online. VAM plenaries are June 21-23 and exhibits are June 21-22. Registration and housing will open in early March.

Abstracts are due Wednesday, Jan. 17, for the 2018 Vascular Annual Meeting, set for June 20-23 in Boston. Guidelines, submission policies and general information on VAM are available online. VAM plenaries are June 21-23 and exhibits are June 21-22. Registration and housing will open in early March.

Abstracts are due Wednesday, Jan. 17, for the 2018 Vascular Annual Meeting, set for June 20-23 in Boston. Guidelines, submission policies and general information on VAM are available online. VAM plenaries are June 21-23 and exhibits are June 21-22. Registration and housing will open in early March.

SVS members, please encourage medical or pre-med students interested in vascular surgery to apply for scholarship to attend the 2018 Vascular Annual Meeting.

VAM will be held June 20 to 23, 2018, in Boston. (Plenaries are June 21-23 and exhibits are open June 21-22.)  The Society for Vascular Surgery offers travel awards, including complimentary VAM registration, to be used toward the cost of travel, housing and meals.

Two awards are available, the General Surgery Resident/Medical Student Travel Scholarship and the Diversity Medical Student Travel Scholarship. Recipients become part of the hugely popular scholarship program, designed to let residents and students explore their interest in vascular surgery.

The SVS Foundation seeks applicants for its Student Research Fellowship awards, designed to stimulate laboratory and clinical vascular research by undergraduate college students and medical students attending universities in the United States and Canada.

Urge students you know with an interest in research to apply today.

SVS members, please encourage medical or pre-med students interested in vascular surgery to apply for scholarship to attend the 2018 Vascular Annual Meeting.

VAM will be held June 20 to 23, 2018, in Boston. (Plenaries are June 21-23 and exhibits are open June 21-22.)  The Society for Vascular Surgery offers travel awards, including complimentary VAM registration, to be used toward the cost of travel, housing and meals.

Two awards are available, the General Surgery Resident/Medical Student Travel Scholarship and the Diversity Medical Student Travel Scholarship. Recipients become part of the hugely popular scholarship program, designed to let residents and students explore their interest in vascular surgery.

The SVS Foundation seeks applicants for its Student Research Fellowship awards, designed to stimulate laboratory and clinical vascular research by undergraduate college students and medical students attending universities in the United States and Canada.

Urge students you know with an interest in research to apply today.

SVS members, please encourage medical or pre-med students interested in vascular surgery to apply for scholarship to attend the 2018 Vascular Annual Meeting.

VAM will be held June 20 to 23, 2018, in Boston. (Plenaries are June 21-23 and exhibits are open June 21-22.)  The Society for Vascular Surgery offers travel awards, including complimentary VAM registration, to be used toward the cost of travel, housing and meals.

Two awards are available, the General Surgery Resident/Medical Student Travel Scholarship and the Diversity Medical Student Travel Scholarship. Recipients become part of the hugely popular scholarship program, designed to let residents and students explore their interest in vascular surgery.

The SVS Foundation seeks applicants for its Student Research Fellowship awards, designed to stimulate laboratory and clinical vascular research by undergraduate college students and medical students attending universities in the United States and Canada.

Urge students you know with an interest in research to apply today.

Research done? Submit it as an abstract for the 2018 Vascular Annual Meeting, set for June 20-23, 2018, in Boston. Plenaries are June 21-23 and exhibits are June 21-22.

The submission site opened Monday. The deadline for submitting abstracts is Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018.

Abstracts may be submitted in the following categories:

• Plenary
• Vascular and Endovascular Surgical Society
• International Forum
• International Fast Talk
• Poster Competition
• Interactive Poster

Guidelines, submission policies and general information on VAM are available online.

Research done? Submit it as an abstract for the 2018 Vascular Annual Meeting, set for June 20-23, 2018, in Boston. Plenaries are June 21-23 and exhibits are June 21-22.

The submission site opened Monday. The deadline for submitting abstracts is Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018.

Abstracts may be submitted in the following categories:

• Plenary
• Vascular and Endovascular Surgical Society
• International Forum
• International Fast Talk
• Poster Competition
• Interactive Poster

Guidelines, submission policies and general information on VAM are available online.

Research done? Submit it as an abstract for the 2018 Vascular Annual Meeting, set for June 20-23, 2018, in Boston. Plenaries are June 21-23 and exhibits are June 21-22.

The submission site opened Monday. The deadline for submitting abstracts is Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018.

Abstracts may be submitted in the following categories:

• Plenary
• Vascular and Endovascular Surgical Society
• International Forum
• International Fast Talk
• Poster Competition
• Interactive Poster

Guidelines, submission policies and general information on VAM are available online.

SVS members, please remember to urge your physician assistants -- and other PAs you know who work in a vascular setting -- to apply to become charter members of the new SVS section created for them. The first step is becoming an affiliate member of the SVS. For our new charter PA members, SVS is waiving the application fee. For more information, email [email protected] or call the SVS Membership Department at 312-334-2313.

We welcome nurses and nurse practitioners as well. Please consider becoming a part of the Society for Vascular Nursing, which makes its management home at SVS.

SVS members, please remember to urge your physician assistants -- and other PAs you know who work in a vascular setting -- to apply to become charter members of the new SVS section created for them. The first step is becoming an affiliate member of the SVS. For our new charter PA members, SVS is waiving the application fee. For more information, email [email protected] or call the SVS Membership Department at 312-334-2313.

We welcome nurses and nurse practitioners as well. Please consider becoming a part of the Society for Vascular Nursing, which makes its management home at SVS.

SVS members, please remember to urge your physician assistants -- and other PAs you know who work in a vascular setting -- to apply to become charter members of the new SVS section created for them. The first step is becoming an affiliate member of the SVS. For our new charter PA members, SVS is waiving the application fee. For more information, email [email protected] or call the SVS Membership Department at 312-334-2313.

We welcome nurses and nurse practitioners as well. Please consider becoming a part of the Society for Vascular Nursing, which makes its management home at SVS.

Don't forget that the end of the year is the time to keep up to date with your SVS membership dues. Invoices were emailed to all members earlier this month and are due by Dec. 31.

It's simple to pay your 2018 dues online -- and there's no need to write out a check or find a stamp! Just log on to vascular.org/payinvoice. (While you're at it, please make sure your record is up to date.) You also can make a donation to the SVS Foundation at the same time. For membership help, e-mail the SVS membership department, or call 312-334-2313

Don't forget that the end of the year is the time to keep up to date with your SVS membership dues. Invoices were emailed to all members earlier this month and are due by Dec. 31.

It's simple to pay your 2018 dues online -- and there's no need to write out a check or find a stamp! Just log on to vascular.org/payinvoice. (While you're at it, please make sure your record is up to date.) You also can make a donation to the SVS Foundation at the same time. For membership help, e-mail the SVS membership department, or call 312-334-2313

Don't forget that the end of the year is the time to keep up to date with your SVS membership dues. Invoices were emailed to all members earlier this month and are due by Dec. 31.

It's simple to pay your 2018 dues online -- and there's no need to write out a check or find a stamp! Just log on to vascular.org/payinvoice. (While you're at it, please make sure your record is up to date.) You also can make a donation to the SVS Foundation at the same time. For membership help, e-mail the SVS membership department, or call 312-334-2313