“Early Carotid Endarterectomy Performed 2 To 5 Days After the Onset of Neurologic Symptoms Leads to Comparable Results to Carotid Endarterectomy Performed at Later Time Points.” Journal of Vascular Surgery, December 2017.

CHICAGO, Illinois, December 2017 – A newly published analysis suggests that the optimal timing of a carotid endarterectomy is after 48 hours but within the first week after a major or minor stroke.

ADDING LEADERSHIP TO THE LEARNING PORTFOLIO OF A VASCULAR SURGEONBY NASIM HEDAYATI, MD ON BEHALF OF THE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND DIVERSITY COMMITTEEThis is the latest column in this year’s series highlighting the evidence-based behaviors and attributes that define great leadership. Based on 25 years of research by Kouzes and Posner in their book "The Leadership Challenge," we are focusing on five "practices" routinely embraced by successful leaders:

Two big initiatives and enhancements are on tap for the Vascular Quality Initiative for 2018:

Optimizing the vascular team has been a major theme of the SVS this past year during Ron Fairman’s presidency, and SVS President Dr. R. Clement Darling III has substantially accelerated the pace of activity during his current term. In a historic decision, on Oct. 1, the SVS Executive Board established a new organizational structure called "Sections," and approved the first proposed one, for Physician Assistants.

It’s nearly time for many SVS members to renew their liability insurance. This year, members have access to a top-notch plan for their practices and institutions.

After the turkey, after the frenzy of post-holiday shopping, do something for others by donating to the SVS Foundation on #Giving Tuesday.

#GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many people focus on holiday and year-end giving. The global day of giving was founded in 2012 and is celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, on the heels of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping days.

The SVS submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in September on two important Proposed Rules affecting vascular surgeons: the 2018 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS).

Final Rules were expected to be issued in early November. The comments are at vsweb.org/Comments.

Veterans Studied for Cognitive Changes 

Off-line Access Comes to VESAP4

A mobile app, for Apple products only, is now available for the approximately 600 users of the fourth edition of the Vascular Education and Self-Assessment Program, which debuted in mid-August.

The mobile app greatly enhances VESAP’s usefulness, by permitting off-line use. It is a major enhancement of VESAP4, say editors Drs. Amy Reed and Greg Modrall.

Do you have insights to share on trauma? Diabetes? Perhaps you’ve completed research on AAAs and possible treatment differences for men and women you want to highlight, or you want to help others with the intricacies of coding and billing.