In this issue: 02 G uest editorial Intentional mentorship— and why it matters
12 D iversity Society of Black Vascular Surgeons builds bridges
07 C omment & Analysis Corner Stitch looks back at VESS 2023 and open repair volumes among trainees
APRIL 2023 Volume 19 Number 4
THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE
SCVS 2023 ENDOVASCULAR-FIRST OR -ONLY APPROACH FOR ALL CLTI PATIENTS ‘IS NOT EVIDENCE-BASED CARE’
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By Bryan Kay MICHAEL S. CONTE, MD, ONE of the foremost experts in the field of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), took attendees of the 2023 Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery (SCVS) Annual Symposium in Miami on a journey through the decades of evidence-based revascularization for limb-threatening ischemia, telling those gathered that the recently published “landmark” BEST-CLI trial evidence should lead to a shift in the current practice landscape, where open bypass surgery is “under-offered and under-utilized.” Conte, chair, professor and chief of vascular and endovascular surgery at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), was delivering the SCVS 2023 (March 25–29) Distinguished Visiting Professor address, devoting a significant portion to the recent publication of the BEST-CLI (Best endovascular versus best surgical therapy in patients with critical limb ischemia) randomized-controlled trial (RCT) data, and what its results means for the treatment of CLI, or chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) going forward. Conte posed the ultimate question: What are the take-home messages in the world of CLTI treatment post-publication of the BEST-CLI results? “I think it is really
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17 VAM 2023 ‘Early birds’ flock in as registration opens, full spectrum of meeting program comes into focus
A joint effort aimed at ensuring quality vascular care and quality improvement is a universal goal has seen eight pilot programs—four inpatient and four outpatient centers—go through the pilot phase of the verification process. By Beth Bales
THE SOCIETY FOR VASCULAR SURGERY (SVS) and the American College of Surgeons (ACS) have launched the “Vas-cular Verification Program (Vascular-VP),” an ACS Quality Program developed in partnership with the SVS. The newly launched inpatient program reviews not just safety processes against standards created by vascular surgeons, but also emphasizes the importance of using clinical data for tracking outcomes and supporting quality improvement specific to vascular care. It covers the perioperative continuum of care, from pre-hospital to post-discharge care. “We created this program to ensure quality and quality improvement in vascular care in both the inpatient and outpatient settings,” said SVS President Michael C. Dalsing, MD. “Our own members asked for this program, particularly for outpatient settings, which may have little or no oversight. They understand the importance of standard policies and procedures embedded wherever care is provided to ensure safety and promote quality.” The verification process ensures that an applicant program: ◆ Has the appropriate infrastructure for the procedures performed ◆ Follows clinical pathways to ensure care is in line with evidence-based clinical guidelines when available ◆ Monitors outcomes, emphasizing the importance of clinically relevant, risk-adjusted, nationally benchmarked data ◆ Submits all needed information to reviewers who will assess all required aspects of the program for verification ◆ Undergoes a verification visit to ensure all standards are complied with and performs case review to ensure that there are internal quality processes in place to ensure safe and appropriate care of patients afflicted with vascular disease is provided The ACS has long-standing experience in a wide array of quality verification programs to include
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ON OCCASION OF 45TH ANNIVERSARY, CX SYMPOSIUM CHAIRMAN CREDITS CHICAGO VASCULAR SURGICAL TANDEM FOR ENDURING SUCCESS By Jocelyn Hudson and Bryan Kay
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THE OCCASION OF A SEMINAL MEETING HELD IN Chicago by former Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) Presidents John J. Bergan, MD, and James S.T. ( Jimmy) Yao, MD, played a central role in the formation of the world-renowned Charing Cross (CX) International Symposium, which this year marks its 45th edition. The year was 1976, and Roger M. Greenhalgh, MD, CX founder and chairman, had not long returned from a tour of the world’s major vascular surgery centers, when he was invited to attend the Bergan and Yao meeting at Northwestern Uni-
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