<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[VCA Foundation]]></title><description><![CDATA[Education, advocacy, research, and collaboration for individuals and families affected by vascular compression syndromes. Research collaborations are future goals.]]></description><link>https://www.vascularcompressionalliance.org/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Mon, 26 Oct 2026 06:49:40 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.vascularcompressionalliance.org/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[May-Thurner Syndrome Treatment: Stents, Clot Removal, IVUS, Complications, and Long-Term Outcomes]]></title><description><![CDATA[May-Thurner Syndrome (MTS), also called iliac vein compression syndrome, most often refers to compression of the left common iliac vein by the right common iliac artery against the spine. But clinically significant iliac venous obstruction can occur in other configurations as well. The presence of compression on imaging does not automatically mean a patient needs treatment. May-Thurner anatomy is common; May-Thurner Syndrome is symptomatic A patient can have substantial iliac-vein narrowing...]]></description><link>https://www.vascularcompressionalliance.org/post/may-thurner-syndrome-treatment-stents-clot-removal-ivus-complications-and-long-term-outcomes</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ac580c72526eefdb7fbb506</guid><category><![CDATA[Education]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 23:14:15 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Heather Soman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Nutcracker Syndrome Treatment: Renal Vein Transposition, Autotransplant, Stents, Bypass, and Long-Term Outcomes]]></title><description><![CDATA[Nutcracker Syndrome (NCS) is symptomatic obstruction of left renal venous outflow. In the most common anterior form, the left renal vein is compressed between the superior mesenteric artery and aorta. Posterior Nutcracker Syndrome involves compression of a retroaortic left renal vein between the aorta and spine. The goal of treatment is to relieve renal venous hypertension while preserving kidney function and recognizing the important role of gonadal and pelvic collateral veins. Nutcracker...]]></description><link>https://www.vascularcompressionalliance.org/post/nutcracker-syndrome-treatment-renal-vein-transposition-autotransplant-stents-bypass-and-long-te</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ac57f9c5f26ec38ab1c9dda</guid><category><![CDATA[Education]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 23:09:16 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Heather Soman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[MALS Surgery: Open, Laparoscopic, Robotic, Celiac Plexus Neurolysis, and Long-Term Outcomes]]></title><description><![CDATA[There is no single universally standardized operation for Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS). Nearly all operations aim to remove the external compression at the origin of the celiac artery, but surgeons differ in the operative approach, how completely they skeletonize the celiac artery, whether they remove or divide celiac plexus and ganglion tissue, and whether they reconstruct or stent the artery when narrowing persists. What every MALS operation is trying to accomplish The median...]]></description><link>https://www.vascularcompressionalliance.org/post/mals-surgery-open-laparoscopic-robotic-celiac-plexus-neurolysis-and-long-term-outcomes</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ac57ebf60b96c0e266e8ab6</guid><category><![CDATA[Education]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 23:05:35 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Heather Soman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[SMAS Surgery: Procedures, Outcomes, Complications, and the SMAS-Nutcracker Connection]]></title><description><![CDATA[Surgery for Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome (SMAS) is not one single operation. Different procedures either bypass the compressed duodenum, mobilize it away from the vascular angle, or reconstruct the duodenum so the compressed segment is no longer in the food pathway. Because SMAS is rare, most evidence comes from retrospective series and case reports rather than randomized trials. 1. Duodenojejunostomy (DJ) Duodenojejunostomy connects the duodenum above or near the obstruction directly...]]></description><link>https://www.vascularcompressionalliance.org/post/smas-surgery-procedures-outcomes-complications-and-the-smas-nutcracker-connection</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ac57dce60b96c0e266e8938</guid><category><![CDATA[Education]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 23:01:34 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Heather Soman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Ehlers-Danlos Society Road to 2026: What the Upcoming EDS and HSD Update Means]]></title><description><![CDATA[A major change is coming to how Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) are classified and diagnosed. The Ehlers-Danlos Society's Road to 2026 initiative is supporting an international expert process to update the 2017 framework. What is expected in December 2026? The Society says an updated international classification framework for all EDS types and HSD is expected to be published in December 2026 in the American Journal of Medical Genetics Part C. Once the...]]></description><link>https://www.vascularcompressionalliance.org/post/the-ehlers-danlos-society-road-to-2026-what-the-upcoming-eds-and-hsd-update-means</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ac57c9a2526eefdb7fbad8e</guid><category><![CDATA[Education]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:56:26 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Heather Soman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Renal Artery Compression and Renal Artery Stenosis]]></title><description><![CDATA[Peer-reviewed research references Renal Artery Stenosis: Diagnostic and Management Problems. Clin Res J Intern Med. 2020. DOI: 10.21776/ub.crjim.2020.001.02.6 Fibromuscular dysplasia in an adult male as a cause of renal artery stenosis and secondary hypertension treated with renal artery stenting. Egypt Heart J. 2017. DOI: 10.1016/j.ehj.2016.09.004]]></description><link>https://www.vascularcompressionalliance.org/post/renal-artery-compression-and-renal-artery-stenosis</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ac57a854f0ef59df1e1d1c6</guid><category><![CDATA[Education]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:47:33 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Heather Soman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Suspected, Diagnosed, Ruled Out, and Never Evaluated: Why the Words Matter]]></title><description><![CDATA[In complex medical histories, the words used to describe a diagnosis matter. VCA intentionally separates suspected disease, confirmed diagnosis, treated diagnosis, ruled-out disease, never-evaluated status, and uncertainty. Suspected A suspected diagnosis means there is a reason to consider the condition, but the available history, examination, imaging, or testing has not yet established it. Suspicion can be clinically important without being the same as confirmation. Diagnosed — treated or...]]></description><link>https://www.vascularcompressionalliance.org/post/suspected-diagnosed-ruled-out-and-never-evaluated-why-the-words-matter</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ac57a854f0ef59df1e1d1c5</guid><category><![CDATA[Education]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:47:33 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Heather Soman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Compression]]></title><description><![CDATA[Peer-reviewed research references Inferior Vena Cava Syndrome: A Rare Complication. Eur J Case Rep Intern Med. 2020. DOI: 10.12890/2020_001628 CT imaging findings of abdominopelvic vascular compression syndromes: what the radiologist needs to know. Insights Imaging. 2020. DOI: 10.1186/s13244-020-00852-z]]></description><link>https://www.vascularcompressionalliance.org/post/inferior-vena-cava-ivc-compression</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ac57a854f0ef59df1e1d1c1</guid><category><![CDATA[Education]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:47:33 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Heather Soman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[After Surgery: Recurrence, New Symptoms, and Long-Term Follow-Up]]></title><description><![CDATA[Peer-reviewed research references CT imaging findings of abdominopelvic vascular compression syndromes: what the radiologist needs to know. Insights Imaging. 2020. DOI: 10.1186/s13244-020-00852-z Imaging features of vascular compression in abdomen: Fantasy, phenomenon, or true syndrome. Indian J Radiol Imaging. 2017. DOI: 10.4103/ijri.ijri_7_17]]></description><link>https://www.vascularcompressionalliance.org/post/after-surgery-recurrence-new-symptoms-and-long-term-follow-up</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ac57a854f0ef59df1e1d1c2</guid><category><![CDATA[Education]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:47:33 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Heather Soman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How to Read a Radiology Report Without Overinterpreting It]]></title><description><![CDATA[Radiology reports are important, but they are not a complete diagnosis. A report describes what the radiologist sees on a specific study performed with a specific protocol. The clinical meaning of those findings depends on symptoms, physiology, prior studies, and the treating specialist's interpretation. Look for the exact anatomy described Useful details may include where a vessel or bowel segment is narrowed, whether collateral veins are present, whether there is upstream dilation, what...]]></description><link>https://www.vascularcompressionalliance.org/post/how-to-read-a-radiology-report-without-overinterpreting-it</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ac57a854f0ef59df1e1d1c3</guid><category><![CDATA[Education]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:47:33 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Heather Soman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Celiac Plexus Block: Diagnostic Tool, Treatment, or Both?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Peer-reviewed research references Celiac plexus block: A diagnostic tool for neurogenic median arcuate ligament syndrome. Pain Pract. 2024. DOI: 10.1111/papr.13403 Outcome predictors in median arcuate ligament syndrome. J Vasc Surg. 2017. DOI: 10.1016/j.jvs.2016.11.040]]></description><link>https://www.vascularcompressionalliance.org/post/celiac-plexus-block-diagnostic-tool-treatment-or-both</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ac57a854f0ef59df1e1d1c0</guid><category><![CDATA[Education]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:47:33 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Heather Soman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Intestinal Malrotation and Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction]]></title><description><![CDATA[Peer-reviewed research references Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-obstruction. Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2018. DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1609024 Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction. Am Surg. 2016. DOI: 10.1177/000313481608200604]]></description><link>https://www.vascularcompressionalliance.org/post/intestinal-malrotation-and-chronic-intestinal-pseudo-obstruction</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ac57a854f0ef59df1e1d1c7</guid><category><![CDATA[Education]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:47:33 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Heather Soman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Chiari Malformation, Tethered Cord, Craniocervical Instability, and Neurologic Symptoms]]></title><description><![CDATA[Peer-reviewed research references Neurological and spinal manifestations of the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes. Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet. 2017. DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.31549 Co-occurrence of tethered cord syndrome and cervical spine instability in hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Front Neurol. 2024. DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1441866]]></description><link>https://www.vascularcompressionalliance.org/post/chiari-malformation-tethered-cord-craniocervical-instability-and-neurologic-symptoms</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ac57a854f0ef59df1e1d1c4</guid><category><![CDATA[Education]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:47:33 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Heather Soman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS): Keeping the Criteria Clear]]></title><description><![CDATA[Peer-reviewed research references Valent P, et al. Mast cell activation syndrome: Proposed diagnostic criteria. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2010.08.035 Afrin LB, et al. Diagnosis of mast cell activation syndrome: a global consensus-2. Diagnosis. 2020. DOI: 10.1515/dx-2020-0005]]></description><link>https://www.vascularcompressionalliance.org/post/mast-cell-activation-syndrome-mcas-keeping-the-criteria-clear</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ac57a1b2526eefdb7fba7f4</guid><category><![CDATA[Education]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:45:47 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Heather Soman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[POTS and Dysautonomia: What Patients and Families Should Know]]></title><description><![CDATA[Peer-reviewed research references Diagnosis and management of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome: A brief review. J Geriatr Cardiol. 2012. DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1263.2012.00061 Understanding the future research needs in Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS): Evidence mapping the POTS adult literature. Auton Neurosci. 2021. DOI: 10.1016/j.autneu.2021.102808]]></description><link>https://www.vascularcompressionalliance.org/post/pots-and-dysautonomia-what-patients-and-families-should-know</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ac57a1b2526eefdb7fba7f7</guid><category><![CDATA[Education]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:45:47 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Heather Soman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Preparing for a Vascular Compression Appointment]]></title><description><![CDATA[Complex vascular-compression appointments are easier when the most useful information is organized before the visit. The goal is not to bring every page of every record; it is to make the patient’s timeline and objective findings easy to understand. Bring a one-page timeline Include when symptoms began, major changes in weight or nutrition, important imaging dates, procedures, hospitalizations, and whether each treatment helped, did nothing, or made symptoms worse. Separate early improvement...]]></description><link>https://www.vascularcompressionalliance.org/post/preparing-for-a-vascular-compression-appointment</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ac57a1b2526eefdb7fba7fb</guid><category><![CDATA[Education]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:45:47 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Heather Soman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Hypermobility, and Vascular Compression]]></title><description><![CDATA[Peer-reviewed research references Tinkle B, et al. Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and related hypermobility spectrum disorders. Am J Med Genet C. 2017. The 2017 framework remains the current published basis until the 2026 update is released. Phenotypic Clusters and Multimorbidity in Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes. 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2024.04.001 Neurological and spinal manifestations of the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes. Am J Med Genet C Semin...]]></description><link>https://www.vascularcompressionalliance.org/post/ehlers-danlos-syndrome-hypermobility-and-vascular-compression</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ac57a1b2526eefdb7fba7f5</guid><category><![CDATA[Education]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:45:47 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Heather Soman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Adrenal Insufficiency and Adrenal Crisis]]></title><description><![CDATA[Peer-reviewed research references Bornstein SR, et al. Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Adrenal Insufficiency: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2016. DOI: 10.1210/jc.2015-1710 European Society of Endocrinology and Endocrine Society Joint Clinical Guideline: Diagnosis and Therapy of Glucocorticoid-induced Adrenal Insufficiency. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2024. DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgae250 Adrenal Crisis – Definition, Prevention and Treatment: Results...]]></description><link>https://www.vascularcompressionalliance.org/post/adrenal-insufficiency-and-adrenal-crisis</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ac57a1b2526eefdb7fba7f8</guid><category><![CDATA[Education]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:45:47 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Heather Soman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tube Feeding, TPN, and Nutrition Support]]></title><description><![CDATA[Nutrition support can become necessary when a patient cannot meet nutritional needs safely or adequately by mouth. The goal is not simply weight gain; it is to provide sufficient energy, protein, fluids, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients while the underlying medical problems are evaluated and treated. Enteral nutrition Enteral nutrition delivers formula through the gastrointestinal tract. Depending on the clinical problem, access may include an NG, NJ, G-tube, GJ-tube, or J-tube. The...]]></description><link>https://www.vascularcompressionalliance.org/post/tube-feeding-tpn-and-nutrition-support</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ac57a1b2526eefdb7fba7f9</guid><category><![CDATA[Education]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:45:47 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Heather Soman</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gastroparesis and GI Dysmotility]]></title><description><![CDATA[How gastroparesis affects the digestive system Gastroparesis means the stomach empties solid food abnormally slowly even though there is no fixed mechanical blockage at the stomach outlet. The stomach normally grinds food, coordinates contractions, and releases it into the duodenum in a controlled way. When that process slows, food and fluid can remain in the stomach much longer than expected. That delay can affect the entire digestive system. Patients may develop nausea, vomiting, early...]]></description><link>https://www.vascularcompressionalliance.org/post/gastroparesis-and-gi-dysmotility</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ac57a1b2526eefdb7fba7f6</guid><category><![CDATA[Education]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:45:47 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Heather Soman</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>