From Our Journals

Feb 13, 2019 Re-posted from the February 2019 issue of Vascular Specialist

From JVS: Researchers believe metformin, a commonly used prescribed oral hypoglycemic agent, may limit enlargement of abdominal aortic aneurysms, after analyzing patients of diabetic patients who are being treated in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The findings, outlined in an opensource article in the March Journal of Vascular Surgery, support holding clinical trials to test the drug’s effectiveness in limiting progression of early AAA disease. Read more through April 30 at vsweb.org/JVS-Metformin.

From JVS-VL: A recent retrospective study showed that vascular surgeons accounted for 22.6 percent of specialists performing endovenous therapy among Medicare patients from 2012- 14. However, the largest percentage of providers (29.7 percent) was comprised of non-surgical specialties or specialists not generally associated with vascular procedures. The study, according to the article in the March JVS-Vascular and Lymphatic Disorders, “raises the question of financially driven, potentially inappropriate utilization of EVT.” Read more free through April 30 at vsweb.org/JVSVL-EVToveruse.

Tags
Vascular Specialist

Related Articles

Education and Representation at the Core of Inclusivity Efforts for DEI Committe

This article was published in the October issue of Vascular Specialist.

The Society for Vascular Surgery’s (SVS) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee continues to make strides in advancing inclusivity within the organization, with several projects underway to address both ongoing challenges and new opportunities.

Why donate to the SVS PAC?

A few years ago, in his presidential address to the Midwestern Vascular Surgical Society, Mark Mattos, MD, spoke eloquently about the need to “protect our specialty.” A large part of this, he argued, is protecting our patients; no other specialty in medicine can provide the type of comprehensive vascular care that we offer. The daily reality we all face is the potential for declining Medicare reimbursement for our services.

Progress made during year like no other

While the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects dominated 2020–21 fiscal year—including the cancellation of the live 2020 Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM)—it did not deter progress on many important initiatives. “When covid hit, it intensified our focus on what was truly important: our members, their patients and the SVS as their Society,” said Executive Director Kenneth M. Slaw, PhD. “That focus was sustained the past 15 months and it has led to innovation and an unprecedented volume of member value programs.” He outlined important highlights from the fiscal year that ended March 31—just more than a year after the pandemic was declared—and the vital initiatives that continue to move forward.