Discussions on the Value and Necessity of Level 1 Evidence

The treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs), ruptures of which carry one of the highest mortality rates among all medical maladies, will be the subject of a major program segment during the 39th annual VEITHsymposium for Vascular & Endovascular Issues, Techniques and Horizons, scheduled for Nov. 14-18 at the Hilton New York, 1335 Avenue of the Americas.

A debate between two physicians on the question of how effectively ruptured AAAs can be treated endovascularly will take place. Janet Powell, MD, PhD, professor at Imperial College London, will argue “We Still Need Level I Evidence To Support Use Of EVAR With Ruptured AAAs: Update On The Findings Of The UK IMPROVE Trial,” while Dieter Mayer, MD, a vascular surgeon at University Hospital Zurich, will counter with “We Don’t Need A RCT: All Ruptured AAAs Can Be Treated Endovascularly And The Results Are Excellent.”

Another interesting debate will feature Matt Thompson, MD, professor of vascular surgery at St. Georges Vascular Institute in the UK, arguing that “With Ruptured AAAs The Turn-Down Rate For Treatment Is Key,” while Mario Lachat, MD, professor at Zurich University Hospital, takes the position that “Technique Not Turn-Down Rate Is Important: Tips And Tricks To Get Good Outcomes From EVAR For AAAs Short-Term And Long-Term.”

One other presentation that should draw an appreciative audience of vascular specialist attendees during the AAA session will see Florian Dick, MD, consultant vascular surgeon at University Hospital Bern in Switzerland, ponder the question, “Are Outcomes Of Treatment For Ruptured AAAs Better If A Specialist Vascular Surgeon Is Caring For The Patient Than Some Other Specialist (General Surgeon Or Cardiac Surgeon)?”

A session quantifying what to look for in determining AAA rupture risk will feature Jesper Swedenborg, MD, of the department of vascular surgery at Karolinska Hospital in Sweden, discussing “Estimating AAA Rupture Risk: It Is Not Just Diameter: Quantitation Of Other Easily Determinable Factors.”

And Clark Zeebregts, MD, consultant vascular surgeon at University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands, will look at another determining factor in a talk on “Degree Of Calcification As A Prognostic Factor For Rupture With AAA.”

Source: VEITHsymposium.

Author