CHICAGO, Illinois, May 6, 2016 –The Society for Vascular Surgery Board of Directors is pleased to announce Kenneth M. Slaw, Ph.D., as the society’s next executive director, replacing Rebecca Maron, CAE, who will retire May 30, 2016.  

For the past 28 years Slaw has held key senior staff posts at the American Academy of Pediatrics, an organization of 64,000 pediatricians, pediatric subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists.  Most recently he has served as the AAP’s director of membership and director of strategic planning.  

Society for Vascular Surgery Honors Nurses

Society for Vascular Surgery members know that caring for vascular surgery patients is truly a team effort, and achieving the best outcomes for our patients would not be possible without the devoted excellence of our outstanding nurses. Nurses of every specialty, and particularly those who are vascular surgery nurses, ensure that we achieve optimal outcomes for our patients in the operating room, on the hospital units, and in the office through their knowledge and professionalism.

The Society for Vascular Surgery and the SVS Foundation present a number of awards during the Vascular Annual Meeting. The achievements and special efforts of many also receive special recognition. 

NIH GRANT and SVS award support RESEARCH ON GUT MICROBES’ EFFECT ON restenosis

Chicago, Illinois– Could microbes in the gut impact human arteries? Surprising early research suggests they might play a role.

Re-narrowing of the arteries is the most common problem for patients who have had open or endovascular surgery. Also called restenosis, it impacts between 20 and 50 percent of patients, depending on the artery treated, even if the surgery is initially successful.

While the 2016 Vascular Annual Meeting includes postgraduate courses, hands-on workshops and other courses, it also features special lectures and forums that add to attendees' overall understanding of the treatment of vascular diseases. Special VAM events include:

Thursday, June 9

William J. von Liebig Forum, on peripheral arterial disease, 8:30 to 10 a.m. Drs. Rabih A. Chaer and Bruce A. Perler will moderate. 

Update on the Medicare Value-Based Payment Modifier and Electronic Health Record Incentive Program Requirements

 

SVS Quality and Performance Measures Committee Provides Information on National Changes

How will the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Physician Feedback Program/Value-based Payment Modifier Program impact the Society for Vascular Surgery’s membership over the next three years? The SVS Quality and Performance Measures Committee has outlined key components and changes.

CHICAGO, Illinois - Previous studies have shown that women are more likely than men to die after vascular surgery, but a new study shows that they are far more likely to be readmitted to the hospital after aortic aneurysm surgery as well. Moreover, women who are discharged to their own homes instead of to care facilities had a higher chance of readmission than other groups.

A letter to members from SVS President Dr. Bruce A. Perler and SVS PAC Steering Committee Chair Dr. Randall DeMartino:

We want to sincerely thank the 248 SVS members who contributed to the Political Action Committee (PAC) in 2015, which helped us score three major victories on Capitol Hill:

A recent review of patients who had undergone carotid, lower extremity bypass, or abdominal aortic aneurysm surgeries found that patients who received both statins and antiplatelet medications were far more likely to be alive five years later. Patients placed on both an antiplatelet agent and cholesterol medication had an adjusted 40 percent reduced risk of death at five years compared to those who received neither drug. Being on either one of these medications was also important, and was associated with an adjusted 30 percent reduced risk of death compared to those on neither medication. When considered differently, an extra 14 of every 100 patients were alive at five years if on both medications.

CHICAGO, Illinois, March 31, 2016 - For some vascular surgery patients, starting an antiplatelet and a cholesterol medication after surgery can significantly extend their lives, even if they don’t have high cholesterol.