The Vascular Education and Self-Assessment Program (VESAP6)

The Vascular Education and Self-Assessment Program (VESAP6) is organized by Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS).

Original Release Date: March 28, 2024
Expiration Date: March 26, 2027

Description:
Disclosure Statement
The ACCME requires that the SVS, as an accredited provider of CME, disclose the relevant financial relationships of the planners, faculty, and any other individuals in a position to control content of this activity. If there is a relevant financial relationship that has been disclosed, please find it below. All other individuals in control of content have indicated that there are no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to be disclosed. All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated. 

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of VESAP6, participants should be able to:
• Demonstrate clinical and surgical vascular knowledge using evidence-based resources
• Demonstrate the application of vascular knowledge through performance-based clinical scenarios
• Demonstrate mastery of current vascular evidence-based knowledge and skills

Module 1: Aortoiliac Disease     
• Describe the modern operative and non-operative management of various pathologies affecting the human aorta to include injury, aneurysm, dissection, occlusion, infection and anatomic variants.
• Discuss the various complications that can be associated with attempted treatment of aortic pathology.
• Discuss the successful medical or surgical management of aortic pathology and their complications.

Module 2: Cerebrovascular Disease  
• Identify anatomy related to the extracranial carotid artery and vertebral artery systems.
• Describe the correct diagnosis and medical management of disorders involving the extracranial carotid artery and vertebral artery. 
• Explain the indications for surgical or endovascular interventions for these disorders.

Module 3: Dialysis Access Management   
• Identify optimal strategies to choose the appropriate hemodialysis access to place in a patient.
• Describe various complications in hemodialysis accesses and their management

Module 4: Radiation Safety   
• Describe methods to reduce radiation exposure during fluoroscopic procedures.
• Review safe operation of fluoroscopic equipment.

Module 5: Renal and Mesenteric Vascular Disease  
• Identify the most appropriate management approaches for atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis, fibromuscular dysplasia of the renal arteries, renal artery dissection, renal artery aneurysm, and arteriovenous fistulae of the kidney.  
• Review the management strategy for acute and chronic mesenteric ischemia, spontaneous dissection of the superior mesenteric artery or celiac artery, mesenteric artery aneurysms, and mesenteric venous thrombosis.  

Module 6: Upper Extremity Vascular Disease  
• Discuss recognition, natural history, and decision-making capabilities pertinent to the management of patients with vascular disorders of the upper extremity.
• Describe the normal and anomalous anatomy of the aortic arch and origin branches and the clinical and surgical implications of those differences as it relates to patient management.
• Recognize the clinical and surgical implications of differences in the aortic arch and origin branches as it relates to patient management.

Module 7: Lower Extremity Vascular Disease     
• Review the spectrum of lower extremity arterial occlusive diseases, including their pathophysiology, presentation, diagnosis and medical, endovascular and open surgical management techniques.
• E xplain lower extremity arterial conditions, including acute arterial occlusion, lower extremity arterial aneurysms, lower extremity vascular trauma, and other miscellaneous lower extremity arterial conditions, including their pathophysiology, diagnosis and management.

Module 8: Vascular Medicine   
• Recognize the evaluation and management of vasculitides, disorders of coagulation, and other non-atherosclerotic vascular diseases.  
• Identify current pharmacologic therapies for lipid disorders, metabolic diseases, hypertension, foot infections, symptomatic peripheral artery disease, and other vascular disorders.

Module 9: Venous and Lymphatic Disease     
• Recognize the pathophysiology of acute and chronic venous disease.
• Explain the benefits of anticoagulation and thrombolysis for acute venous thromboembolism.

Module 10: Vascular Lab:
• Cerebrovascular
• Abdominal
• Peripheral Arterial
• Peripheral Venous
• Discuss the basic principles of ultrasound physics and their application to vascular ultrasound and recognize common imaging and Doppler artifacts encountered in the vascular laboratory.
• Identify interpretation skills applying standard diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of cerebrovascular, visceral and peripheral artery stenosis (pre- and post-intervention) using duplex ultrasound.