Clinical Guidelines and Reporting Standards
The Society for Vascular Surgery offers several different types of clinical practice documents and tools to assist our members and the healthcare industry.
Clinical Practice Guidelines*
The Society's guidelines evaluate the evidence in the scientific literature, assess the likely benefits and harms of a particular treatment, and enable healthcare providers to select the best care for a unique patient based on his or her preferences. The Society develops clinical practice guidelines to aid its members and their patients in the decision-making process.
*The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) develops evidenced-based clinical practice guidelines as a resource to assist members in the practice of vascular surgery. The guideline recommendations contained herein are based on a recent review of published evidence. They reflect the available body of evidence, and their applicability reflects the limitations of that data and are subject to reassessment and revision as new knowledge emerges. Given these limitations, clinical practice guidelines do not represent a statement of the standard of care, nor do they substitute for clinician judgment or supplant patient preference or shared decision-making. The Society of Vascular Surgery recognizes that departure from guidelines may be warranted when, in the reasonable judgment of the treating clinician, such course of action is indicated by the clinical presentation of the patient, limitations of available resources, advances in knowledge or technology, or patient preference. The reader must rely solely on their own judgment to determine what practices and procedures, whether included in this practice guideline or not, are appropriate for them, their patient, their institution, or their practice.
Translating Guidelines Into Clinical Practice
GVG-CLTI Series
In the fall of 2022, expert moderators and panelists came together to host a series of interactive roundtables addressing how to incorporate the Global Vascular Guidelines on the Management of Patients with CLTI into practice. The three sessions are helpful in expanding physician knowledge base and improving clinical confidence and effectiveness in treating patients with CLTI.
Varicose Veins
Varicose Vein experts hosted an interactive session addressing diagnostic evaluation of patients with varicose veins, using duplex scanning to confirm pathologic superficial truncal reflux. The session also covered compression therapy, and open surgical and percutaneous endovenous therapies for lower extremity varicosities, including thermal and non-thermal ablations of the great, small and accessory saphenous veins. The treatment of perforating veins and the concomitant treatment of varicose tributaries with sclerotherapy or mini-phlebectomy were also be discussed.
Part 1
Part 2
Decision-Making in the CLTI Patient Series
In 2024, the Decision-Making in the CLTI Patient Series was launched through the support of a CMSS grant. These sessions feature expert moderators and faculty from around the country. They are aimed at expanding physician knowledge base and improving clinical confidence and effectiveness in treating patients with CLTI.
Perioperative Care in Vascular Surgery: Recommendations from ERAS and SVS
In the fall of 2024, expert faculty reviewed the recommendations for perioperative care based on the consensus statements developed by the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Society and the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) in 2022, 2023 and 2024. In addition, practical examples of how ERAS protocols have been implemented in clinical practice are discussed.
Multi-specialty Consensus Documents
The Society occasionally participates in Multi-specialty Consensus Documents with external organizations.
Reporting Standards
Reporting standards are intended to provide uniformity of definitions and classifications for comparative purposes. They are instructive on how to report information from clinical studies in a consistent manner to make it easy for the reader to compare results.
Credentialing Resources
Find papers and information on vascular credentialing and clinical competencies.
Best Practices
A multi-specialty effort on best practice for talking points concerning the risks and benefits of using paclitaxel devices.