American Venous Forum | |
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| Website | veinforum.org |
The American Venous Forum (AVF) is the major national academic society focused on venous and lymphatic disease in the United States. Its mission includes education, research, and advocacy. The AVF is a sponsor organization for the Journal of Vascular Surgery Venous and Lymphatic and for the American Venous Forum meeting.
Founded in 1987, the American Venous Forum (AVF) is dedicated to improving the care of patients with venous and lymphatic disease. [1] The AVF fosters research and clinical innovation and educates health care professionals, patients and policy makers about venous and lymphatic diseases.
This venous education series provides training and education within the specialties of vascular surgery, interventional radiology, interventional cardiology, vascular medicine, general surgery, and associated programs. These sessions are led by distinguished faculty and leaders in their respective fields and videos of past series can be found on the AVF website for future reference. [2]
AVF has produced committees to critically analyze and revise, when necessary, various venous guidelines in the vascular society community. Some notable ones are listed below:
1. CEAP Classification System and Reporting Standards [3]
2. Clinical Practice Guidelines on Lower Extremity Compression Therapy [4]
3. Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) for Chronic Lower Extremity Venous Disease [5]
4. The 2022 Society for Vascular Surgery, American Venous Forum, and American Vein and Lymphatic Society clinical practice guidelines for the management of varicose veins of the lower extremities. Part I. Duplex Scanning and Treatment of Superficial Truncal Reflux [6]
5.The 2023 Society for Vascular Surgery, American Venous Forum, and American Vein and Lymphatic Society clinical practice guidelines for the management of varicose veins of the lower extremities. Part II. [7]
The Layman's Handbook for Venous Disorders is designed to assist vascular care providers with terms, treatment options, and answers to frequently asked questions about venous diseases. This textbook provides essential information on the cause, presentation and up-to-date management of venous diseases. It also includes important data on prevention and treatment of blood clots, leg swelling, varicose veins and venous ulcers. [8]
AVF also provides a monthly newsletter via email that discusses upcoming or recent events the society has hosted or been involved with as well as noteworthy journal articles in the vascular field. [9]
VENOUS2025, AVF's annual meeting, is an international, scientific, academic and practical meeting for vascular surgeons as well as other practitioners that treat venous and lymphatic disease around the world. It includes oral and poster presentations on research conducted in vascular surgery in the United States and around the world, as well as demonstrations from medical device companies and a keynote address from the president of the society. This 37th annual meeting will be held on February 16-19, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. Click the arrow to be taken to the AVF website to learn more about VENOUS2025.
The AVF and Society of Vascular Surgery sponsor the Journal of Vascular Surgery Venous and Lymphatic , which is a peer-reviewed academic journal published by Elsevier that started in 2013. [10] It has published several of the most notable academic papers in the field of venous and lymphatic disease. In 2021, the journal had an impact factor of 4.19, the highest among venous journals. [10]
Find more information about the American Venous Forum on each of the following platforms:
Lymphedema, also known as lymphoedema and lymphatic edema, is a condition of localized swelling caused by a compromised lymphatic system. The lymphatic system functions as a critical portion of the body's immune system and returns interstitial fluid to the bloodstream.
Varicose veins, also known as varicoses, are a medical condition in which superficial veins become enlarged and twisted. Although usually just a cosmetic ailment, in some cases they cause fatigue, pain, itching, and nighttime leg cramps. These veins typically develop in the legs, just under the skin. Their complications can include bleeding, skin ulcers, and superficial thrombophlebitis. Varices in the scrotum are known as varicocele, while those around the anus are known as hemorrhoids. The physical, social, and psychological effects of varicose veins can lower their bearers' quality of life.
Vascular surgery is a surgical subspecialty in which vascular diseases involving the arteries, veins, or lymphatic vessels, are managed by medical therapy, minimally-invasive catheter procedures and surgical reconstruction. The specialty evolved from general and cardiovascular surgery where it refined the management of just the vessels, no longer treating the heart or other organs. Modern vascular surgery includes open surgery techniques, endovascular techniques and medical management of vascular diseases - unlike the parent specialities. The vascular surgeon is trained in the diagnosis and management of diseases affecting all parts of the vascular system excluding the coronaries and intracranial vasculature. Vascular surgeons also are called to assist other physicians to carry out surgery near vessels, or to salvage vascular injuries that include hemorrhage control, dissection, occlusion or simply for safe exposure of vascular structures.
Telangiectasias, also known as spider veins, are small dilated blood vessels that can occur near the surface of the skin or mucous membranes, measuring between 0.5 and 1 millimeter in diameter. These dilated blood vessels can develop anywhere on the body, but are commonly seen on the face around the nose, cheeks and chin. Dilated blood vessels can also develop on the legs, although when they occur on the legs, they often have underlying venous reflux or "hidden varicose veins". When found on the legs, they are found specifically on the upper thigh, below the knee joint and around the ankles.
Sclerotherapy is a procedure used to treat blood vessel malformations and also malformations of the lymphatic system. A medication is injected into the vessels, which makes them shrink. It is used for children and young adults with vascular or lymphatic malformations. In adults, sclerotherapy is often used to treat spider veins, smaller varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and hydroceles.
Venous ulcer is defined by the American Venous Forum as "a full-thickness defect of skin, most frequently in the ankle region, that fails to heal spontaneously and is sustained by chronic venous disease, based on venous duplex ultrasound testing." Venous ulcers are wounds that are thought to occur due to improper functioning of venous valves, usually of the legs. They are an important cause of chronic wounds, affecting 1% of the population. Venous ulcers develop mostly along the medial distal leg, and can be painful with negative effects on quality of life.
Diosmin, a flavone glycoside of diosmetin, is manufactured from citrus fruit peels as a phlebotonic non-prescription dietary supplement used to aid treatment of hemorrhoids or chronic venous diseases, mainly of the legs.
Vascular disease is a class of diseases of the vessels of the circulatory system in the body, including blood vessels – the arteries and veins, and the lymphatic vessels. Vascular disease is a subgroup of cardiovascular disease. Disorders in this vast network of blood and lymph vessels can cause a range of health problems that can sometimes become severe, and fatal. Coronary heart disease for example, is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States.
Vein stripping is a surgical procedure done under general or local anaesthetic to aid in the treatment of varicose veins and other manifestations of chronic venous disease. The vein "stripped" is usually the great saphenous vein. The surgery involves making incisions, followed by insertion of a special metal or plastic wire into the vein. The vein is attached to the wire and then pulled out from the body. The incisions are stitched up and pressure dressings are often applied to the area.
The term venous translucence has been used in phlebology since 1996 by surgeon Pedro Fernandes Neto during ambulatory clinical exams in Brazil. His results were published in the annals of the national and international congresses of angiology. Venous translucence is the process of reflective image visualization of veins by light, which reaches up to the superficial venous system. It is a non-invasive method. Since it is a simple, low-cost technique it can be repeated as needed, which is useful in disease-process monitoring. It is a new diagnostic procedure, still undergoing investigation; more analysis is necessary to hone its technical aspects. Venous translucence is based on optical physics. It is caused by the refraction, absorption and reflection of light. The color which is not absorbed is reflected, and is the one that is seen. Therefore, venous translumination is based on the incidence of luminosity on the vein, where part of the light is absorbed and another reflected.
Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a medical condition in which blood pools in the veins, straining the walls of the vein. The most common cause of CVI is superficial venous reflux which is a treatable condition. As functional venous valves are required to provide for efficient blood return from the lower extremities, this condition typically affects the legs. If the impaired vein function causes significant symptoms, such as swelling and ulcer formation, it is referred to as chronic venous disease. It is sometimes called chronic peripheral venous insufficiency and should not be confused with post-thrombotic syndrome in which the deep veins have been damaged by previous deep vein thrombosis.
Phlebology is a medical speciality that is concerned with venous issues including the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the veins. A medical specialist in this field is known as a phlebologist. The specialty of phlebology has developed to enable physicians sharing an interest in venous disease and health to share knowledge and experience despite being trained in a variety of backgrounds such as dermatology, vascular surgery, haematology, interventional radiology or general medicine. Diagnostic techniques used include the patient's history and physical examination, venous imaging techniques in particular vascular ultrasound and laboratory evaluation related to venous thromboembolism. The American Medical Association and the American Osteopathic Association have added phlebology to their list of self-designated practice specialties.
Klippel–Trénaunay syndrome, formerly Klippel–Trénaunay–Weber syndrome and sometimes angioosteohypertrophy syndrome and hemangiectatic hypertrophy, is a rare congenital medical condition in which blood vessels and/or lymph vessels fail to form properly. The three main features are nevus flammeus, venous and lymphatic malformations, and soft-tissue hypertrophy of the affected limb. It is similar to, though distinct from, the less common Parkes Weber syndrome.
Perforator veins are so called because they perforate the deep fascia of muscles, to connect the superficial veins to the deep veins where they drain.
Ultrasonography of suspected or previously confirmed chronic venous insufficiency of leg veins is a risk-free, non-invasive procedure. It gives information about the anatomy, physiology and pathology of mainly superficial veins. As with heart ultrasound (echocardiography) studies, venous ultrasonography requires an understanding of hemodynamics in order to give useful examination reports. In chronic venous insufficiency, sonographic examination is of most benefit; in confirming varicose disease, making an assessment of the hemodynamics, and charting the progression of the disease and its response to treatment. It has become the reference standard for examining the condition and hemodynamics of the lower limb veins. Particular veins of the deep venous system (DVS), and the superficial venous system (SVS) are looked at. The great saphenous vein (GSV), and the small saphenous vein (SSV) are superficial veins which drain into respectively, the common femoral vein and the popliteal vein. These veins are deep veins. Perforator veins drain superficial veins into the deep veins. Three anatomic compartments are described, (N1) containing the deep veins, (N2) containing the perforator veins, and (N3) containing the superficial veins, known as the saphenous compartment. This compartmentalisation makes it easier for the examiner to systematize and map. The GSV can be located in the saphenous compartment where together with the Giacomini vein and the accessory saphenous vein (ASV) an image resembling an eye, known as the 'eye sign' can be seen. The ASV which is often responsible for varicose veins, can be located at the 'alignment sign', where it is seen to align with the femoral vessels.
Stasis papillomatosis is a disease characterized by chronic congestion of the extremities, with blood circulation interrupted in a specific area of the body. A consequence of this congestion and inflammation is long-term lymphatic obstruction (lymphedema). It is also typically characterized by the appearance of numerous papules. Injuries can range from small to large plates composed of brown or pink, smooth or hyperkeratotic papules. The most typical areas where injuries occur are the back of the feet, the toes, the legs, and the area around a venous ulcer formed in the extremities, although the latter is the rarest of all. These injuries include pachydermia, lymphedema, lymphomastic verrucosis and elephantosis verrucosa. The disease can be either localized or generalized; the localized form makes up 78% of cases. Treatment includes surgical and pharmaceutical intervention; indications for partial removal include advanced fibrotic lymphedema and elephantiasis. Despite the existence of these treatments, chronic venous edema, which is a derivation of stasis papillomatosis, is only partially reversible. The skin is also affected and its partial removal may mean that the skin and the subcutaneous tissue are excised. A side effect of the procedure is the destruction of existing cutaneous lymphatic vessels. It also risks papillomatosis, skin necrosis and edema exacerbation.
CLaCS is a treatment for leg vein lesions by combining transdermal laser effect and injection sclerotherapy, all under skin cooling. The laser causes a selective photothermolysis damaging the vein wall. The vein's lumen gets smaller. On a second procedure, sclerosing agent is injected where the vein is still open. This combination can be used treat veins that could be treated by phleboectomy or foam sclerotherapy - more invasive options. To improve results, CLaCS can be guided by Augmented Reality.
Claude Franceschi is an angiologist French MD.
Dinker Belle Rai is an Indian American vascular surgeon who serves as the chairman of the Department of Surgery and as the Chief of the Department of Vascular Surgery / Vascular Laboratory at the Interfaith Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York. He is a visiting clinical professor at the Health & Science Center of the State University of New York in Brooklyn and a visiting professor at the Rajiv Gandhi University in Bangalore, India. Rai is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a Fellow of the Royal Canadian College of Surgeons. He is credited with developing the first ever method for retrograde catheterization of the venous tree. This invention was given a United States patent in 1988. Based on this patent, a company called The Ideas For Medicine, Inc. manufactured and still distributes out a series of catheters, known as Rai’s Catheters for use in performing descending phlebographic tests and for venous embolectomies. He is also credited with the discovery of the motion of venous valves in human beings. His original research on histopathological specimens of patients with saphenofemoral – incompetency resulted in a paradigm shift in management of varicose veins. He performed the first ever vein transplantation below the knee. The discovery of the right atrial mechanical function is a pivotal discovery in his medical research work. He is an editor for the International Journal of Angiology. Rai has been featured in the book "Jewels of India" for his contributions to medicine, art, sports and cultural arenas.
Kenneth Arthur Myers FRACS FACS was an Australian surgeon specialising in phlebology.
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