7. CX Office-based Vein Practice Course
The CX Office-based Vein Practice Course was led by Ian Franklin (Imperial College, London, UK) and it covered a wide range of techniques and procedures. Over the two days, the course welcomed more than 700 participants. We were granted the unique opportunity to view demonstrations and try office-based venous devices and procedures with the guidance of experienced tutors. The course was set up in a very flexible format so we could go to the training stations we were interested in (we could have one-on-one or small group interactions with world experts).
The Day 1 practice course strongly emphasized practical skills with simulators and equipment provided for attendees to learn ultrasound-guided cannulation, catheter positioning, and tumescent anesthesia. Other stations included: virtual ultrasound training with the Axiom simulator; deep vein thrombosis interventions including Trellis, Angiojet, suction thrombectomy, and Ekos; leg ulcers and skin grafting under local anesthesia; steam thermotherapy; ambulatory phlebectomy; deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis in the thrombophilic patient; microsclerotherapy for thread veins; Norseld laser treatment for thread veins; and marketing and social media for doctors.
This year, the course featured a very large section on acute venous thrombosis and acute deep vein thrombosis and interventional techniques for treating deep vein thrombosis. Additionally, for the first time ever, the course featured four different lasers, three different radiofrequency catheters, endovenous glue, mechanicochemical ablation, and steam thermotherapy.
We could go from station to station and discover nuances that we had never seen other people do and bring that back to our practice, so the course is good not only for people with basic knowledge, but it is also good for people with advanced skills.
Day 2 of the CX Office-based Veins Practice Course offered CHIVA (Cure Conservatrice et Hemodynamique de l’Insufficience Veineuse en Ambulatoire); diagnostic ultrasound training; lymphedema and compression therapy; foam sclerotherapy; microsclerotherapy for thread veins; ASVAL (Ablation Sélective des Varices sous Anésthesie Locale); pin stripping under local anesthesia; Norseld laser for thread veins; surgical deep vein reconstruction; deep venous stenting; endovenous valves; pelvic vein treatments and pelvic congestion syndrome; case presentations; and website design and search engine optimization for doctors.
