Abstract
This is already our first five-year anniversary of the European Venous Course (EVC), again with important contributions from a lot of experts in the field. It is great to be active in this very dynamic period in which venous diagnostics and treatment options change so fast. A lot is happening in varicose vein surgery but also in the treatment of deep venous pathology.
We are very pleased with the fact that we are able to publish the papers presented during the EVC in this supplement to Phlebology. It is well recognized that Phlebology has become the leading journal for venous disease in the world with a recently increased impact factor of 2.698. All the important educative contributions for the EVC will now be available for a much bigger audience, although we are still very proud of our, every year well-appreciated, venous course book.
As said this supplement contains the contributions to our EVC. Several important issues are addressed with an accent on the indications for certain treatments for varicose veins, pelvic congestive syndrome, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and the very debatable treatment of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Methods to maintain the high standard of venous care in Europe are also addressed together with the foundation of a European College of Phlebology, which will be responsible, in close relationship with the Union Européenne des Médicins Spécialistes (UEMS), for education, training, examination and certification. The latter is necessary to further improve the quality of care and to ameliorate the equal distribution of care in Europe.
One of the best methods to improve the quality of care is evaluating it. Full registration of treatments and outcomes will generate the information necessary to give the individual professional the mirror information needed to see if he is performing equal, better or worse than his colleagues. This feedback will immediately create an incentive to improve the quality of care. It is this need that is addressed in a few papers in which questions are answered on what to register, why, and, very importantly, how. Issues like the importance of quality of life and clinical scoring systems are discussed and evaluated.
The programming of the meeting has completely changed. As we had separate presentations from the EVC program and the industries, we have now combined those. It is recognized that we can only treat patients with a joint effort between clinicians and industry. Our goals are the same although our driving forces might differ a bit. It is within this perspective that we combined the EVC presentations with the presentations sponsored by our industrial partners. By doing so we got an integrated programme with information about advances in venous therapy from both sides.
Besides the theoretical information presented in this supplement, it is recognized that hands-on training is needed and much appreciated. This is why venous master classes, in which participants get hands-on training in superficial and deep venous treatments, are organized for three days. A new intuitive electronic patient database is also introduced with realtime registration of all essential information allowing full registration of all important data.
Finally, we are very pleased that leaders in the field will address all issues at hand and that they all contributed to this Venous Course supplement to Phlebology, which is also a hardcover handout to all participants of the Venous Course.
This EVC is specially designed for all healthcare workers in the field of venous disease like vascular surgeons, dermatologists, phlebologists, vascular technicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. This has all become possible thanks to the co-work with our industrial partners. Therefore, we are very grateful to our major and regular partners for their contribution and confidence in this course. We really believe that co-operation with industries and healthcare workers in the field of venous disease, together with their co-participation in this course, will positively influence the quality of care and possible new innovations in venous care.