Dr Jaap Buth, Department of Vascular Surgery, Catharina Hospital, Michelangelolaan 2, NL-5623 EJ Eindhoven, The Netherlands. Vascular surgery is the clinical and scientific discipline concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases affecting arteries, veins and lymphatics.
Vascular disease are currently the most common cause of death and disability in European countries.
There is little evidence of any significant decline in the prevalence of these diseases despite widespread promotion of preventive measures. However, the range of available diagnostic and therapeutic techniques has broadened considerably in recent years and continues to do so. Vascular surgery has therefore become a clearly defined, highly specialised and progressively expanding discipline, with specific training requirements. 2.2 Application of basic knowledge. The practice of vascular surgery requires extensive knowledge of the basic science and a thorough training in general surgical techniques.