AVF Research in Action: Risk Scores, HIFU, and Guidelines

Advancing Risk Assessment and Ablation Technology

An update on the Caprini risk assessment model described a large international analysis identifying score thresholds where venous thromboembolism risk rises sharply across surgical specialties, alongside early machine learning work that modestly improved the model’s predictive accuracy while highlighting how far it remains from clinical utility. A separate presentation reported final results from the first United States trial of high-intensity focused ultrasound for great saphenous vein ablation, achieving high rates of reflux resolution without anesthesia, incisions, or compression, though flow closure was less consistent in larger veins.

Guidelines Committee Progress

The AVF Guidelines Committee described active development of an upper extremity deep vein thrombosis guideline, a planned collaboration with the Wound Healing Society to update leg ulcer guidelines, and continued analysis from the JURY trial examining junctional reflux and treatment efficacy in the great saphenous vein. Committee leaders emphasized recruiting experienced guideline writers and establishing clear reporting standards to keep future guidelines timely and rigorous.