List of five unnecessary vascular tests released

The recommendations initially came from suggestions from members of the SVM, which were reduced to five recommendations by the Board of Trustees as part of the Choosing Wisely campaign.

The five evidence-based recommendations are: (1) do not test for a clotting disorder in patients with a first episode of deep vein thrombosis in the setting of a known cause; (2) do not repeat imaging for deep vein thrombosis in the absence of a clinical change; (3) avoid preoperative cardiovascular testing in patients undergoing low-risk surgery; (4) do not perform percutaneous or surgical revascularization of peripheral artery stenosis in patients without claudication or critical limb ischemia; and (5) do not screen for renal artery stenosis in patients without resistant hypertension and with normal renal function even if known atherosclerosis is present.

"One of our society's core missions is to promote optimal standards of care in the diagnosis and treatment of vascular disease," James Froehlich, M.D., M.P.H., president-elect of SVM, said in a statement. "Through this innovative partnership with the ABIM Foundation, Consumer Reports, and Choosing Wisely, we are able to contribute to this goal by hopefully improving both awareness and action at the physician and patient level."

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