American Venous Forum

The American Venous Forum (AVF) is the major national academic society focused on venous and lymphatic disease in the United States. Its mission includes education, research, and advocacy. The AVF is a sponsor organization for the Journal of Vascular Surgery Venous and Lymphatic and for the American Venous Forum meeting.

American Venous Forum

History

Founded in 1987, the American Venous Forum (AVF) is dedicated to improving the care of patients with venous and lymphatic disease.^[1] The AVF fosters research and clinical innovation and educates health care professionals, patients and policy makers about venous and lymphatic diseases.

Initiatives

Residents, Fellows and Early Career Education Series

This venous education series provides training and education within the specialties of vascular surgery, interventional radiology, interventional cardiology, vascular medicine, general surgery, and associated programs. These sessions are led by distinguished faculty and leaders in their respective fields and videos of past series can be found on the AVF website for future reference.^[2]

Venous guidelines

AVF has produced committees to critically analyze and revise, when necessary, various venous guidelines in the vascular society community. Some notable ones are listed below:

1. CEAP Classification System and Reporting Standards^[3]

2. Clinical Practice Guidelines on Lower Extremity Compression Therapy^[4]

3. Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) for Chronic Lower Extremity Venous Disease^[5]

4. The 2022 Society for Vascular Surgery, American Venous Forum, and American Vein and Lymphatic Society clinical practice guidelines for the management of varicose veins of the lower extremities. Part I. Duplex Scanning and Treatment of Superficial Truncal Reflux^[6]

5.The 2023 Society for Vascular Surgery, American Venous Forum, and American Vein and Lymphatic Society clinical practice guidelines for the management of varicose veins of the lower extremities. Part II.^[7]

The Layman's Handbook for Venous Disorders

The Layman's Handbook for Venous Disorders is designed to assist vascular care providers with terms, treatment options, and answers to frequently asked questions about venous diseases. This textbook provides essential information on the cause, presentation and up-to-date management of venous diseases. It also includes important data on prevention and treatment of blood clots, leg swelling, varicose veins and venous ulcers.^[8]

Vein specialist newsletter

AVF also provides a monthly newsletter via email that discusses upcoming or recent events the society has hosted or been involved with as well as noteworthy journal articles in the vascular field.^[9]

Annual meeting

VENOUS2026, AVF's annual meeting, is an international, scientific, academic and practical meeting for vascular surgeons as well as other practitioners that treat venous and lymphatic disease around the world. It includes oral and poster presentations on research conducted in vascular surgery in the United States and around the world, as well as demonstrations from medical device companies and a keynote address from the president of the society. This 38th annual meeting will be held on March 1-4, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. Click the arrow to be taken to the AVF website to learn more about VENOUS2026.

Journal of Vascular Surgery Venous and Lymphatic

The AVF and Society of Vascular Surgery sponsor the Journal of Vascular Surgery Venous and Lymphatic, which is a peer-reviewed academic journal published by Elsevier that started in 2013.^[10]  It has published several of the most notable academic papers in the field of venous and lymphatic disease. In 2021, the journal had an impact factor of 4.19, the highest among venous journals.^[10]