Pathways of Care in Vascular Surgery

This book describes recent developments and best practice in vascular surgery, with an emphasis on multidisciplinary care pathways. It is based upon the presentations to be made at a symposium to be held in Sheffield, England later this month, which has as its aim the improvement of the provision and equality of care for patients with peripheral arterial and venous disease. Contributions have come from vascular surgeons, anesthetists, radiologists, nurses and vascular technologists. Five sections cover the main areas of management of patients with peripheral vascular disease; outpatients and medical management; vascular imaging and endovascular intervention; vascular surgery; anesthesia and operating rooms; and organizational aspects of care. It focuses on the most important aspects of care rather than the comprehensive approach of larger (and more expensive) textbooks. Each chapter describes a care pathway based on pragmatism and the evidence, where available. Each chapter lists one or more books for further reading rather than exhaustive references. It uses a simplified classification of grading evidence and recommendations for use with clinical guidelines, which is referenced in the text by the appropriate bold numeral or letter in brackets. Jonathan Beard is a consultant vascular surgeon at the Sheffield Vascular Institute, Chairman of the JVRG, and has extensive experience of editing vascular textbooks as well as the European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. Shelagh Murray is a senior clinical nurse in vascular surgery at St George's Hospital London, President of the Society of Vascular Nurses, and has edited a textbook of vascular nursing.