American Venous Forum

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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 the sponsor organization for the Journal of Vascular Surgery Venous and Lymphatic and for the American Venous Forum meeting.

Contents

History

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.

Initiatives

Residents, Fellows and Early Career Education Series

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]

COVID-19 resources

In light of the ongoing pandemic and COVID-19's immense impact on vascular functioning, the AVF has published a list of resources for further study and understanding of the vascular impacts of COVID-19. [3] [4] This list includes links to some of the most recent papers published on the topic as well as the guidelines suggested by other public health organizations.

Venous guidelines

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 [5]

2. Clinical Practice Guidelines on Lower Extremity Compression Therapy [6]

3. Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) for Chronic Lower Extremity Venous Disease [7]

4. Clinical Practice Guidelines on Management of Venous Leg Ulcers [8]

The Layman's Handbook for Venous Disorders

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. [9]

Vein specialist newsletter

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. [10]

Index of Articles of Excellence

The AVF also maintains an Index of Articles of Excellence that include notable and formative journal articles in the field of vascular surgery. [11]

Annual meeting

VENOUS2023, 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 35th annual meeting will be held on February 22-25, 2023 in San Antonio, Texas. Click the arrow to be taken to the AVF website to learn more about VENOUS2023.

Journal of Vascular Surgery Venous and Lymphatic

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. [12]  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. [13]  

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lymphedema</span> Medical condition

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Varicose veins</span> Medical condition in which superficial veins become large and twisted

Varicose veins, also known as varicoses, are a medical condition in which superficial veins become enlarged and twisted. These veins typically develop in the legs, just under the skin. Varicose veins usually cause few symptoms. However, some individuals may experience fatigue or pain in the area. Complications can include bleeding or superficial thrombophlebitis. Varices in the scrotum are known as a varicocele, while those around the anus are known as hemorrhoids. Due to the various physical, social, and psychological effects of varicose veins, they can negatively affect one's quality of life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vascular surgery</span> Medical specialty, operative procedures for the treatment of vascular disorders

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telangiectasia</span> Small dilated blood vessels

Telangiectasias, from Greek: tel- (end) + angi- + ectasia, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sclerotherapy</span> Shrinking of the varicose blood vessels by the injection of medicine

Sclerotherapy is a procedure used to treat blood vessel malformations and also malformations of the lymphatic system. A medicine 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deep femoral vein</span> Large blood vessel

The deep femoral vein, deep vein of the thigh or profunda femoris vein, is a large deep vein in the thigh. It collects blood from the inner thigh, passing superiorly and medially alongside the deep femoral artery before emptying into the femoral vein.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Venous ulcer</span> Medical condition

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diosmin</span> Chemical compound

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vascular disease</span> Medical condition

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Post-thrombotic syndrome</span> Medical condition

Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS), also called postphlebitic syndrome and venous stress disorder is a medical condition that may occur as a long-term complication of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chronic venous insufficiency</span> Medical condition

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter H. Lin</span>

Peter Lin is an American vascular surgeon, medical researcher, specializing in minimally invasive endovascular treatment of vascular disease. He has published extensively in the area of vascular surgery and endovascular surgery.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Veinoplus</span> Medical device treating vascular diseases

Veinoplus is a class IIa medical device with CE marking. It is indicated for the treatment of vascular diseases. This is a neuromuscular stimulator developed by an American scientist, Jozef Cywinski.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perforator vein</span>

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.

The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) is the major national academic society for vascular surgery in the United States. Its mission includes education, research, career development and advocacy. The SVS is the national advocate for more than 6,000 specialty-trained vascular surgeons and other medical professionals who are dedicated to the prevention and cure of vascular disease. The association was founded in 1946. The SVS is the sponsor organization for the Journal of Vascular Surgery (JVS) and for the national Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM).

Fibro-adipose vascular anomaly, also known as FAVA, is a type of vascular anomaly that is both rare and painful. FAVA is characterized by tough fibrofatty tissue taking over portions of muscle, most often contained within a single limb. FAVA also causes venous and/or lymphatic abnormalities.

Kenneth Arthur Myers FRACS FACS was an Australian surgeon specialising in phlebology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brajesh Lal</span>

Brajesh K. Lal, born in 1963 in Varanasi, India and of Indian origin, is an American surgeon, and an expert in vascular disease, particularly the prevention and treatment of stroke and venous disease.

References

  1. ↑ "American Venous Forum fosters research & clinical innovation – Promoting venous and lymphatic health". www.veinforum.org. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
  2. ↑ "Venous Education Series". www.veinforum.org. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
  3. ↑ Siddiqi, Hasan K.; Libby, Peter; Ridker, Paul M (January 2021). "COVID-19 – A vascular disease". Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine. 31 (1): 1–5. doi:10.1016/j.tcm.2020.10.005. ISSN   1050-1738. PMC   7556303 . PMID   33068723.
  4. ↑ "COVID-19". www.veinforum.org. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
  5. ↑ Lurie, Fedor; Lal, Brajesh K.; Antignani, Pier Luigi; Blebea, John; Bush, Ruth; Caprini, Joseph; Davies, Alun; Forrestal, Mark; Jacobowitz, Glenn; Kalodiki, Evi; Killewich, Lois (2019-01-01). "Compression therapy after invasive treatment of superficial veins of the lower extremities: Clinical practice guidelines of the American Venous Forum, Society for Vascular Surgery, American College of Phlebology, Society for Vascular Medicine, and International Union of Phlebology". Journal of Vascular Surgery: Venous and Lymphatic Disorders. 7 (1): 17–28. doi:10.1016/j.jvsv.2018.10.002. ISSN   2213-333X. PMID   30554745. S2CID   58768019.
  6. ↑ Lurie, Fedor; Lal, Brajesh K.; Antignani, Pier Luigi; Blebea, John; Bush, Ruth; Caprini, Joseph; Davies, Alun; Forrestal, Mark; Jacobowitz, Glenn; Kalodiki, Evi; Killewich, Lois (2019-01-01). "Compression therapy after invasive treatment of superficial veins of the lower extremities: Clinical practice guidelines of the American Venous Forum, Society for Vascular Surgery, American College of Phlebology, Society for Vascular Medicine, and International Union of Phlebology". Journal of Vascular Surgery: Venous and Lymphatic Disorders. 7 (1): 17–28. doi:10.1016/j.jvsv.2018.10.002. ISSN   2213-333X. PMID   30554745. S2CID   58768019.
  7. ↑ Masuda, Elna; Ozsvath, Kathleen; Vossler, John; Woo, Karen; Kistner, Robert; Lurie, Fedor; Monahan, Dan; Brown, William; Labropoulos, Nicos; Dalsing, Michael; Khilnani, Neil (2020-07-01). "The 2020 appropriate use criteria for chronic lower extremity venous disease of the American Venous Forum, the Society for Vascular Surgery, the American Vein and Lymphatic Society, and the Society of Interventional Radiology". Journal of Vascular Surgery: Venous and Lymphatic Disorders. 8 (4): 505–525.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.jvsv.2020.02.001 . ISSN   2213-333X. PMID   32139328.
  8. ↑ O’Donnell, Thomas F.; Passman, Marc A.; Marston, William A.; Ennis, William J.; Dalsing, Michael; Kistner, Robert L.; Lurie, Fedor; Henke, Peter K.; Gloviczki, Monika L.; Eklöf, Bo G.; Stoughton, Julianne (2014-08-01). "Management of venous leg ulcers: Clinical practice guidelines of the Society for Vascular Surgery® and the American Venous Forum". Journal of Vascular Surgery. 60 (2): 3S–59S. doi: 10.1016/j.jvs.2014.04.049 . ISSN   0741-5214. PMID   24974070.
  9. ↑ "Vein Handbook | The Layman's Handbook of Venous Disorders". www.veinforum.org. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
  10. ↑ "American Venous Forum News and Publications". www.veinforum.org. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
  11. ↑ "Index of Articles of Excellence".
  12. ↑ "Home Page: Journal of Vascular Surgery: Venous and Lymphatic Disorders". www.jvsvenous.org. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
  13. ↑ https://www.jvsvenous.org/.{{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
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