Articles

The DEFINITE Audit: a prospective audit of diabetic foot debridement in theatre – a protocol

January 17, 2023

Introduction People with diabetes are at high risk of developing foot ulceration (DFU). Once established, diabetic foot ulcers are at risk of rapid deterioration and infection which can lead to bacteraemia and sepsis. Infected DFU is associated with high morbidity, limb loss and death.1–3 The development of severe infection requires emergency hospital admission and surgery…

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Frailty Assessment in UK Vascular Centres (FAVE): a survey to investigate data collection methods and impact on clinical practice

January 9, 2023

Introduction The importance of frailty as a clinical syndrome is gaining momentum in surgical specialties. Frailty is defined as ‘a state of vulnerability to a stressor event, triggering disproportionate changes in health status’.1 Increasing age may lead to the clinical condition of frailty.1 In the UK, three quarters of patients presenting with vascular disease are…

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Dosing and efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave therapy for diabetic foot ulcer healing: a systematic review protocol

January 6, 2023

Introduction With the rapidly increasing prevalence of diabetes, effective interventions to tackle the complications are urgently needed. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) occur in 25–30% of patients with diabetes and are particularly challenging to heal in a timely manner.1-4 Delays in ulcer healing increase the risks of localised infection, sepsis, major limb amputation and mortality.5,6 Current…

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Assessment of the diagnostic accuracy of automated ankle brachial pressure index devices in patients with diagnosed or suspected peripheral arterial disease: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

November 22, 2022

Background Target condition being diagnosed Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a prevalent cardiovascular disease, estimated to affect approximately 236 million people worldwide.1 PAD is characterised by progressive narrowing of the arterial lumen, reducing blood flow to the distal extremities.2 Classic symptoms include exertional calf, thigh and/or buttock pain known as intermittent claudication, and with disease…

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Top 4 Trainee Competition Abstracts from VASGBI ASM, Belfast

November 22, 2022

FIRST PRIZE   Emergency management of post-carotid endarterectomy neck haematoma: a teaching and simulation training package R Little, E Spodniewska, G Hughes, M Safar, T Irving Liverpool University Hospitals Foundation Trust (Royal Liverpool Hospital) Background Post-operative neck haematoma is a clinical emergency that can rapidly progress to airway obstruction and cardiorespiratory arrest if not recognised and…

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