SVS Launches Tobacco Cessation Program

August 21, 2023—The Society for Vascular Surgery has initiated a national smoking cessation initiative that provides patients and their physicians with resources to cut tobacco use and improve long-term health.

The program, developed by the society’s Patient Safety Organization (PSO), is called CAN-DO (Choosing Against combustible Nicotine Despite Obstacles) and includes toolkits and educational materials, as well as participation in a Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) registry.

CAN-DO includes information on health effects of smoking and benefits of quitting; state-specific resources and cessation plans; treatment options; apps; podcasts and videos; tips from former smokers; social media support groups; and telephone quitlines.

In the SVS announcement, SVS PSO Associate Medical Director Dr. Gary Lemmon highlighted that although most smokers know about lung damage caused by smoking, they are less educated about its negative effects on blood vessels. These include increased risk of peripheral artery disease and increased blood pressure and heart rate, as well as that it can cause cancer elsewhere in the body. The society also noted that smokers have far more surgical complications, and some surgeons hesitate to operate on patients who smoke unless it’s an emergency.

More information on smoking cessation efforts and the CAN-DO program can be found at the VQI website.