Vascular Surgery 

Specialty Champions

2024-2025: Oliver Wynne & Matthew Irvine

2025-2026: x

 

What is Vascular Surgery?

Vascular surgery is a specialty focusing on conditions affecting the blood vessels, including arteries, veins, and lymphatic systems. These structures are vital for circulating blood and nutrients throughout the body, and their dysfunction can lead to serious health issues, such as restricted blood flow, blood clots, or aneurysms. 

Vascular surgeons are trained to treat a wide range of conditions, including peripheral arterial disease (PAD), aortic aneurysms, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), varicose veins, and carotid artery disease. They employ both surgical and minimally invasive techniques, depending on the complexity of the condition. For example, endovascular procedures, such as angioplasty and stenting, involve threading small instruments through blood vessels to restore proper circulation, while open surgeries may be necessary for more extensive repairs. 

Ultimately, vascular surgery aims to restore and maintain healthy blood flow, through a series of life saving and life improving surgeries in a huge array of anatomical locations, enhancing patients' quality of life and reducing the risk of life-threatening complications 

 

Training pathways of a Vascular Surgeon

Vascular surgery training used to be a subspecialty of general surgery where you decided later on in the training programme to specialise in vascular. Since 2021 you are able to specialise sooner. You complete 2 years of Core surgical training (CT1 and CT2) after your foundation years (F1 and F2). After this you apply competitively for an ST3 place in the vascular surgery training programme. Specialty training lasts 6 years – ST3-ST8. After passing Intercollegiate Specialty Examination (FRCS) and receiving a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), you can apply for a consultant post. 

 

Common conditions seen in Vascular Surgery

  • Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

    • A condition where narrow arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs. It often causes pain or cramping during exercise

  • Abdominal Aortic aneurism

    • A bulge or weakening in the abdominal aorta that can rupture, leading to life threatening bleeding

  • Varicose veins

    • Swollen, twisted veins often visible under the skin, caused by valve dysfunction, leading to blood pooling in the legs

  • Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)

    • A condition where damaged venous valves impair blood flow, causing swelling, skin changes and sometimes ulcers in the legs 

  • Lymphoedema

    • Swelling in own or more limbs caused by a blockage in the lymphatic system leading to fluid retention and tissue swelling

  • Deep Vein Thrombosis

    • Formation of a blood clot in a deep vein, typically in the legs, which can cause swelling, pain and complications like a pulmonary embolism.

  • Aortic Dissection

    • A tear in the inner layer of the aorta, causing blood to flow between layers and potentially leading to rupture or organ ischaemia

  • Carotid Artery Stenosis

    • Narrowing of the carotid arteries due to atherosclerosis, increasing the risk of stroke

If you're looking for a comprehensive list of vascular surgery-related conditions that are tested on the MLA, refer to the official MLA Content Map provided by the GMC using the link provided: https://www.gmc-uk.org/-/media/documents/mla-content-map-_pdf-85707770.pdf

 

Common procedures performed in Vascular Surgery

  • Carotid Endarterectomy

    • A procedure to remove plaque from the carotid artery to prevent stroke.

  • Open Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Repair

    • Surgical repair of an AAA to prevent rupture.

  • Endovascular AAA repair (EVAR)

    • An endovascular procedure to repair aortic aneurysms using stent grafts.

  • Angioplasty and Stenting

    • Widening narrowed blood vessels with a balloon and placing stents to maintain patency.

  • Varicose vein Treatment

    • Procedures like laser therapy, sclerotherapy, or vein stripping to treat varicose veins.

  • Peripheral Bypass Surgery

    • Creation of a detour around a blocked artery in the legs to improve blood flow.

  • Venous Thrombectomy

    • Surgical removal of a clot from a vein, often used in severe cases of DVT.

 

Learning resources for Vascular Surgery

 

Royal College governance and training in Vascular Surgery

 

Professional organisations related to Vascular Surgery

The Vascular Society is a multidisciplinary organisation for professionals in vascular surgery, interventional radiology, nursing, and physiotherapy. It hosts the main UK vascular conference annually.
The Vascular Society: https://www.vascularsociety.org.uk

The Rouleaux Club represents vascular surgery trainees and offers free membership for students. It organises vascular skills courses at the Vascular Society conference and leads initiatives like the ASPIRE Junior series, aimed at medical students. Live participation in ASPIRE webinars provides certificates valuable for CVs, e-portfolios, and specialty applications.
Rouleaux Club: https://www.rouleauxclub.com

 

Staying updated with information about Vascular Surgery

An easy way to stay involved is by following these organisations on Twitter, where updates on webinars, conferences, and prizes are frequently shared. You'll also find accounts linked to clinical trials and influential figures in training provision.

  • @RouleuxClub  

  • @VSGBI 

  • European Society of vascular surgery