Expansion of the National Venous Screening Program
The National Venous Screening Program, organized and administrated by American Venous Forum, continues with the mission of increasing public awareness of acute and chronic venous diseases through education, identification, and empowerment. Entering its third year, the National Venous Screening is poised for wide national expansion in line with the anticipated United States Surgeon General’s call to action to prevent venous thrombosis and death due to pulmonary embolism.

Results from the pilot program were published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery this past year (Volume 45, Issue 1, pages 142-148, January 2007). Seventeen institutions screened 476 people in November, 2005 identifying 77% of participants with high or very high risk for deep venous thrombosis if placed into a high risk situation, 53% with clinical evidence of venous insufficiency (CEAP 2-6) and 40% with duplex ultrasound identified venous reflux in at least one leg vein segment.

Based on this initial experience, the second year of the National Venous Screening Program in November, 2006, represented expansion to 139 sites with screening of 3,000 to 4,000 people in over 40 states. Program expansion included an update of the screening tool to include an abbreviated quality of life questionnaire and patient release to allow for later follow-up of participants.

Sign up for centers began this spring with an extended targeted screening timeframe to span from November 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008, culminating in Deep Venous Thrombosis Awareness month in March 2008. The extended time period will allow more flexibility for participating sites to perform screening, with the goal of 50 state representation and increased participation by the public. Additional pilot efforts at increasing physician awareness with educational material and sponsored venous educational symposium will also be incorporated into this year’s screening.

The American Venous Forum extends its gratitude to the generous sponsorship of Juzo and Sanofi Aventis. Additional funding efforts are in progress and will be directed by a professional marketing firm.
For more information, visit www.venous-info.org.

International Society for Vascular Surgery Objectives
In a June 2007 message, the President of the International Society for Vascular Surgery announced this year’s ISVS objectives. The goals include ensuring that Vascular Surgery becomes a specialty worldwide, raising standards and offering members an opportunity to be involved in training programs to access techniques which they cannot access at home, and sending council members to developing countries to assist them in their programs.
For more information, visit www.isvs.com.

 

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