The changing world of vascular surgery

Blog Post by Mr Vish Bhattacharya MB BS, FRCS (Glas & Edin), FRCS (Gen Surg) Consultant General and Vascular Surgeon, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, UK.

Vascular surgery has changed dramatically over the last 10 years. The major emphasis has been on prevention of vascular disease and on minimally invasive surgery. There has been much better awareness among the general body of doctors especially GPs about arterial disease and their management. Early detection of peripheral arterial disease and its management is gaining increased importance in order to reduce the number of amputations.

Venous disease management has also changed and less invasive forms of treatment for example foam sclerotherapy, radiofrequency ablation and laser treatment of veins have emerged.

Interventional radiology and vascular surgery have become intertwined like never before.

Aneurysm treatment has moved into stenting for even complex cases and hybrid procedures are now increasingly common. The new generation of stent devices are being designed with smaller delivery systems  for percutaneous approach. The treatment of stroke has also undergone a sea change and early surgery for carotid stenosis has become the norm.

Screening programmes for the detection of aortic aneurysms are now being rolled in various parts of the U.K. Several studies have proven that this would increase the detection rate of aneurysms for open repair and reduce the mortality from rupture.

 For the vascular trainee the change has been even more remarkable. When once he trained to learn about the finer points of open aneurysm repair, the modern trainee today is sharpening his skills in minimally invasive techniques.

The modern Vascular Consultant needs to be skilled in both open surgery and endovascular techniques.

The course for the exit exam is vast and this book covers  all the relevant topics in one simple easy to read book. Guidelines for treatment for several vascular conditions like deep vein thrombosis are ever changing. This book has all the latest updates on management of vascular disease.

Postgraduate Vascular Surgery, The Candidate’s Guide to the FRCS is edited by Vish Bhattacharya and Gerard Stansby and published by Cambridge University Press