For surgeons, it can be difficult to get patients to come back a year after surgery for follow-up tests or an office visit.

As we age, it is common to be concerned about heart disease or high blood pressure. But many people don’t know that those conditions are also related to another common health issue, peripheral artery disease (PAD). Unfortunately, many patients are not diagnosed until it has progressed.

Thanks to mailings and websites that claim statin medications are harmful or unnecessary, many patients are confused about whether they should take them. That’s unfortunate.

“Current practice of thoracic outlet decompression surgery in the United States.” J Vasc Surg Sept. 2017.

“Evaluation of Thrombolysis Using Tissue Plasminogen Activator in Lower Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis with Concomitant Femoral-Popliteal Venous Segment Involvement.” Journal of Vascular Surgery: Venous and Lymphatic Disorders, September, 2017.

GOOD NEWS FOR BASEBALL PITCHERS, OTHER ATHLETES

Large national study finds vascular surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome is safe

The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) executive board has established a task force to explore developing a vascular certification program for inpatient and outpatient centers.

HOSPITALS WITH MORE UNINSURED PATIENTS HAVE HIGHER FAILURE TO RESCUE RATES FOR OPEN AORTIC SURGERY

“Effects of Hospital Safety-Net Burden and Hospital Volume on Failure to Rescue After Open Abdominal Aortic Surgery,” Journal of Vascular Surgery, August, 2017.

Eat like an Italian (minus the pizza)

Nutrition Tips for Better Vascular Health

“Female Sex Independently Predicts Mortality After Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair for Intact Descending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms.” July, 2017, Journal of Vascular Surgery.