How to be a Safe Consultant Vascular Surgeon from Day One: The Unofficial Guide to Passing the FRCS (VASC)

369 Pages·2022·9.791 MB·English

by  James Forsyth

H B S C
ow to e a afe onSultant
V S D o
aSCular urgeon from ay ne
This is a highly pragmatic and down-to-earth guide to the “real world” of vascular surgery,
written to help trainees pass the FRCS (Vasc) Examination the first time around, hopefully
with flying colours! Through clear and concise chapters, a review of relevant vascular surgery
papers, a solid grounding in up-to-date and relevant UK and European guidelines, and mock
examination questions, this book should give candidates a fighting chance at exam success.
Using his early experience, and insight gained from senior consultant vascular surgeons and
mentors, author James Forsyth dispenses both facts and pearls of wisdom as he takes the
prospective vascular surgeon through the core topics pertinent to a day one vascular consultant.
This guide specifically covers:
• “Building a strong foundation” with a focus on patient counselling, presentation skills,
clear documentation, professionalism, and a foundational grasp of the key evidence base
for vascular surgery
• “Core vascular surgery topics” from chronic limb-threatening ischaemia to aorto-iliac
aneurysms to symptomatic carotid artery disease to chronic venous disease
• Pragmatic guide to the “bread & butter” vascular surgery operations
• Fifty mock SBA assessment questions and answers, and numerous mock FRCS short and
long cases that are blended into reality-based discussions to draw out key learning points
This book is essential to any budding vascular surgeon intending to sit the FRCS (Vasc)
examinations, and those who are about to start off as real day one consultant vascular surgeons.
Indeed, the FRCS (Vasc) Examination is a bridge to becoming a true consultant vascular
surgeon, and this book therefore is a “must-read” for anyone looking to cross that bridge.
James Michael Forsyth, MBBS MSc (HPE) FRCSEd (Vasc.Surg) is a Vascular Surgery Consultant
at the Leeds Vascular Institute, United Kingdom. His special interests include diabetic foot
disease, chronic limb-threatening ischaemia, vascular access, and major trauma.

H B S
ow to e a afe
C V
onSultant aSCular
S D o
urgeon from ay ne
The Unofficial Guide to
Passing the FRCS (VASC)
James Michael Forsyth, MBBS MSc (HPE) FRCSEd (Vasc.Surg)
Vascular Surgery Consultant
Leeds Vascular Institute, UK
First edition published 2023
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ISBN: 978-1-032-28585-6 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-28547-4 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-29754-3 (ebk)
DOI: 10.1201/b22951
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My son, there is something else to watch out for. There is no end to the writing
of books, and too much study will wear you out.
Ecclesiastes 12:12
I dedicate this book to my parents John and Linda.
Thanks for all your help and support over the years
I would not be here without you

Contents
Introduction x
Section One Strong Foundation
1 20 Papers for FRCS (Plus a Few More) 1
2 Patient Counselling 38
3 Clear Documentation 40
4 Be Professional 42
5 How to Present a Vascular Patient 45
Section Two Core Vascular Surgery Topics
6 Intermittent Claudication 51
7 Diabetic Foot Disease 54
8 Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischaemia (CLTI) 68
9 Acute Limb Ischaemia 77
10 Aortoiliac Aneurysms 103
11 Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm 131
12 Popliteal Aneurysm 134
13 Descending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm 137
14 Type B Aortic Dissection 145
vii
viii Contents
15 Symptomatic Carotid Artery Disease 150
16 Vascular Access 163
17 The IVDU Groin 185
18 Chronic Venous Disease 189
19 Lower Limb Venous Thromboembolism 199
20 Mesenteric Arterial Disease 211
21 Vascular Trauma 223
22 Vascular Graft and Endograft Infection 256
Section Three “Bread & Butter” Vascular Surgery Operations
23 Open AAA Repair (Elective, Infra-Renal) 273
24 Carotid Endarterectomy 278
25 Common Femoral Endarterectomy 282
26 Femoral Above-Knee Popliteal Bypass: Reversed Ipsilateral GSV 284
27 Femoral Below-Knee Popliteal Bypass: Reversed Ipsilateral GSV 286
28 Femoral Embolectomy 289
29 Popliteal Embolectomy 291
30 Brachial Embolectomy 293
31 Lower-Limb Fasciotomy 296
32 Hallux Amputation 298
33 Foot Debridement 300
Contents ix
34 Transmetatarsal Amputation 302
35 Above-Knee Amputation 304
36 Below-Knee Amputation 306
37 Guillotine Amputation (Above Ankle) 309
38 GSV Endovenous Ablation 311
39 Saphenofemoral Junction Ligation, Great Saphenous Vein Stripping, and
Multiple Stab Avulsions 313
40 Temporal Artery Biopsy 315
41 Brachiocephalic Fistula Creation 317
42 Peritoneal Dialysis Tube Insertion (Open) 320
43 Peritoneal Dialysis Tube Removal 322
Section Four Single Best Answer Assessment
44 Questions 325
45 Answers 342
Key References for Book 345
Index 349