The Vascular Service is composed of PG5, PG3 or 4 and PG-1 residents.
Administrative
Your administrative responsibility is to organize patient care in a coherent manner, to have lab data when on rounds, and to work with the vascular nurse and advanced level practitioners to prepare patients for surgery and discharge.
Reading
You are expected to read in the realm of vascular disease from your standard textbook of surgery. Additional materials are available if you have specific questions or interests. You should be cognizant of the physiology and pathology of vascular disease. You should note the problems of treating patients with severe generalized atherosclerosis and the un-repaired heart. You should be aware of the diagnosis of stroke. You should read about problems from chronic venous disease.
Technical
You will have experience with simple and advanced procedures, such as venous access for hemodialysis, vena cava filter placement, amputations, upper & lower extremity revascularization procedures, carotid surgery and open or endovascular aortic surgery. You will begin to work with fine suture materials and may choose to practice using Castroviejo needle holders with PTFE (Gore-Tex) graft. You should read about the standard vascular exposures, including the retroperitoneum and the neck. You should practice stable knot tying.
Diagnostic
You should learn what the indications are for vascular surgery and how vascular patients are prepared for surgery. It is important to study the risk factors for vascular surgery and the management of common complications for the vascular procedures. You should study the assessment of the circulation by physical examination and with the vascular laboratory, as well as with the use of angiography.