European Society for Vascular Surgery

European Society for Vascular Surgery

The ESVS offers resources for vascular surgeons, nurses, trainees and more so we may fulfil our mission of improving vascular health for the public benefit. ESVS has received sponsorship for the inclusion of some topics to be addressed in some podcasts, but the focus, content and development of all podcasts are fully independent.

  1. Jul 2

    Ascending Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (aTEVAR): The ESVS 2025 Consensus Statement

    In this episode, Professor Santi Trimarchi discusses the ESVS Clinical Practice Consensus Statement on Ascending Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (aTEVAR). He provides a comprehensive scientific overview of the document, helping listeners gain a concise yet thorough understanding of its key recommendations and expert consensus. During the episode, we explore the unique anatomical challenges of the ascending aorta for endovascular repair, patient selection, and situations in which conservative management may be preferred over intervention. We also discuss landing zone requirements, stent graft sizing strategies, vascular access considerations, cardiac output control during stent graft deployment, contraindications for aTEVAR, the prevention and management of endoleaks, post-procedural surveillance, and future research priorities. For a detailed review of the recommendations and supporting evidence, listeners are encouraged to consult the full consensus document. References: Trimarchi S, Czerny M, Haulon S, van Herwaarden JA, de Kort JF, Roselli EE, Schermerhorn ML, Upchurch GR Jr, Wanhainen A, on behalf of the ESVS Guidelines Steering Committee. European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS) 2025 Clinical Practice Consensus Statement on Ascending Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair. European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. 2025;70:10–23. doi:10.1016/j.ejvs.2025.05.023

  2. Jun 18

    CREST 2 Trial: Changing Practice or Raising Questions? with B. Rantner & C. Hicks

    The publication of CREST-2 has reignited one of the longest-standing debates in vascular medicine: should asymptomatic carotid stenosis still be treated invasively in the era of modern best medical therapy? In this episode, Laurence Bertrand and Rosalinda D'Amico discuss the trial with Barbara Rantner and Caitlin Hicks, exploring its methodology, controversial findings, and the implications for the management of asymptomatic carotid stenosis. Full name of guests: Dr. Barbara Rantner – TUM University Hospital, Munich, Chair of ESVS and DGG guideline writing committee Dr. Caitlin Hicks, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Member of the writing committee ESVS and SVS guidelines Shownotes: Brott TG, Howard G, Lal BK, Voeks JH, Turan TN, Roubin GS, Lazar RM, Brown RD Jr, Huston J 3rd, Edwards LJ, Jones M, Clark WM, Chamorro Á, Llull L, Mena-Hurtado C, Heck D, Marshall RS, Howard VJ, Moore WS, Barrett KM, Demaerschalk BM, Sangha N, Aronow H, Foster M, Sternbergh WC 3rd, Shawl F, Lanzino G, Rapp J, Tran HS, Ecker R, Mackey A, Ali V, Given C 2nd, Teal P, Kashyap VS, Mukherjee D, Harrigan M, Silverman S, Koopmann M, Wadley VG, Zhang Y, Rhodes JD, Chaturvedi S, Meschia JF; CREST-2 Investigators. Medical Management and Revascularization for Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis. N Engl J Med. 2026 Jan 15;394(3):219-231. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2508800. Epub 2025 Nov 21. PMID: 41269206; PMCID: PMC13148431. Halliday A, Bulbulia R, Bonati LH, Chester J, Cradduck-Bamford A, Peto R, Pan H; ACST-2 Collaborative Group. Second asymptomatic carotid surgery trial (ACST-2): a randomised comparison of carotid artery stenting versus carotid endarterectomy. Lancet. 2021 Sep 18;398(10305):1065-1073. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01910-3. Epub 2021 Aug 29. PMID: 34469763; PMCID: PMC8473558.

  3. Jun 11

    Genetic Aortopathies: Navigating Complex Decisions in Practice with R. Afifi & S. Shalhub

    How should we approach intervention thresholds, repair strategies, and lifelong surveillance in patients with genetic aortopathies? Prof. Sherene Shalhub (Oregon Health & Science University) and Prof. Rana Afifi (McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston) discuss the practical challenges, controversies, and unanswered questions that shape decision-making in the management of these complex patients. Shownotes: Lian T, Pai CW, Woznicki E, et al. Nonsyndromic familial type B aortic dissection exhibits distinct clinical profiles and operative outcomes. J Vasc Surg. 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jvs.2026.04.022. MacCarrick G, Afifi RO, Allen R, et al. Loeys-Dietz Syndrome: 2026 updated care management primer. Genet Med. 2026. doi:10.1016/j.gim.2026.102577. Lian T, Bhandari A, Shalhub S. What Every Vascular Surgeon Should Know About Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Ann Vasc Surg. 2026. doi:10.1016/j.avsg.2026.03.032. Calderon-Martinez E, Velasco WV, Guo D, et al. Differences in Arterial Events in Vascular Ehlers-Danlos, Loeys-Dietz, and Marfan Syndrome. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2025;85:2355-2367. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2025.04.023. Shalhub S. The aortic and arterial vulnerability spectrum: A conceptual biological framework for risk stratification and precision surgical decision-making in aortopathy and arteriopathy. J Vasc Surg. 2025;82:722-739.e4. doi:10.1016/j.jvs.2025.04.028. Dittman JM, Prakash SK, Gupta PC, et al. Practice Patterns and Barriers to Vascular Genetic Testing Among Vascular Surgeons. Ann Vasc Surg. 2024;105:140-149. doi:10.1016/j.avsg.2024.01.032. Shalhub S, Byers PH. Endovascular repair of a common iliac artery aneurysm with an iliac branch device in a patient with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome due to a null COL3A1 variant. J Vasc Surg Cases Innov Tech. 2023;9:101192. doi:10.1016/j.jvscit.2023.101192. Dittman JM, Saldana-Ruiz N, Newhall K, et al. Open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms in patients with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. J Vasc Surg Cases Innov Tech. 2023;9:101194. doi:10.1016/j.jvscit.2023.101194. Shalhub S, Nkansah R, El-Ghazali A, et al. Splenic artery pathology presentation, operative interventions, and outcomes in 88 patients with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. J Vasc Surg. 2023;78:394-404. doi:10.1016/j.jvs.2023.04.007. Regalado ES, Morris SA, Braverman AC, et al. Comparative Risks of Initial Aortic Events Associated With Genetic Thoracic Aortic Disease. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2022;80:857-869. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2022.05.054.

  4. May 7

    The Invisible Risk Factor for PAD: Air Pollution with A. Settembrini

    In this episode of the ESVS Podcast, we explore air pollution as an often-overlooked risk factor for peripheral arterial disease (PAD). We are joined by Professor Alberto Maria Settembrini. Professor Settembrini is a vascular surgeon in Milan in MultiMedica and Professor of vascular surgery at Unicamillus University in Rome. He is a co-author of a large Rome-based longitudinal study involving over 1.7 million individuals. The study shows that long-term exposure to PM2.5, NO₂, and black carbon is associated with increased PAD incidence, with stronger effects in males and people aged 55–69. Professor Settembrini discusses the links between different pollutants and PAD, how pollution interacts with traditional risk factors (obesity, diabetes, smoking, hypertension), the underlying mechanisms, and practical advice for vascular specialists in daily practice. During the episode, we also hear from Porto’s City Councillor for the Mobility and Transportation, Engineer Hugo Beirão, who shares the city’s efforts to improve urban health. References: 1- Ravalli S, Musumeci G, et al. Chelation therapy in patients with cardiovascular disease: a systematic review. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2022;11(4):1033. doi:10.3390/jcm11041033 2- Serra R, Abramo A, Ielapi N, Procopio S, Marino P. Environmental pollution and peripheral artery disease. Risk Manag Healthc Policy. 2021;14:2181–2190. 3- Liao SH, Chiu CS, Jang LH, Hu SY, How CK, Hsieh VCR, et al. Long-term exposures to air pollutants and risk of peripheral arterial occlusive disease: a nationwide cohort study in Taiwan. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2022;9:796423. 4- Gwon JG, Park JH, Kim JS, Seo HM. Exposure to long-term air pollution and incidence of peripheral arterial disease in the general population: a national population-based retrospective cohort study. [Preprint]. 2021. 5- Deng Z, Duan L, Wang K. Revisiting the association between air pollution and peripheral artery disease: evidence from Mendelian randomization analysis. Eur J Intern Med. 2025;132:164–166. 6- Di Blasi C, Nobile F, Settembrini AM, Stafoggia M, Davoli M, Michelozzi P, et al. Association between long-term exposure to air pollution and incidence of peripheral artery disease: evidence from a longitudinal study. Eur J Intern Med. 2025;132:113–117.

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The ESVS offers resources for vascular surgeons, nurses, trainees and more so we may fulfil our mission of improving vascular health for the public benefit. ESVS has received sponsorship for the inclusion of some topics to be addressed in some podcasts, but the focus, content and development of all podcasts are fully independent.

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