Currently there are several imaging techniques used to image the vascular system. These techniques include catheter-based conventional digital subtraction angiography, Doppler ultrasound, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and computed tomography angiography (CTA). Conventional digital subtraction angiography (DSA) has long been the…
Introduction In the early days of vascular surgery, patient assessment was based on a careful history and physical examination. Although a few clinicians used the Collins oscillometer to estimate the pulse pressure in an extremity, there was little help available…
Introduction Arterial disease is the leading cause of death and significant morbidity in the United States and throughout the world. The American Heart Association estimates that 85.6 million (26.4%) Americans have cardiovascular disease, leading to 787,000 deaths annually. Patients with…
Introduction The term chronic critical limb ischemia (CLI) was first coined in 1982 and was intended to describe limb-threatening arterial insufficiency in the absence of diabetes mellitus (DM). Since the initial description of CLI, the incidence and prevalence of DM…
Introduction The use of antibiotics in vascular surgery has undergone significant change in the course of the past half-century. Initial experience with devastating arterial graft infections and significant data supporting antibiotic use led to overuse of antibiotics. More recent experience…
Definition, Incidence, and Clinical Significance Congenital vascular malformations (CVMs) are rare developmental abnormalities of the vascular system that include a broad spectrum of arterial, venous, lymphatic, and capillary lesions. The overall incidence is estimated at 1.2% to 1.5%. Congenital arterial…
Vascular malformations (VMs) are developmental abnormalities of the vascular system. They should be differentiated from vascular tumors or hemangiomas because they have different etiologies, growth patterns, treatments, and outcomes. Malformations can involve any segment of the vascular tree: arteries, capillaries,…
Although the majority of arterial abnormalities of interest to vascular surgeons are caused by atherosclerosis, a significant number result from inflammatory, acquired, congenital, and developmental abnormalities. This chapter briefly describes the pathogenesis, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of a variety of…
Vascular surgeons commonly treat patients with the manifestations of atherosclerosis. An improved understanding of atherosclerosis and advances in its treatment now provide scientifically based prevention and management strategies. Precise lesion classification, accurate imaging, a better understanding of atherogenesis, and increasingly…
Introduction Most of the bleeding that occurs during surgery or in association with trauma is mechanical and usually can be controlled. In contrast, nonsurgical bleeding most commonly is caused by the concomitant administration of antithrombotic medications, and less commonly by…