Articles
Psychological needs of individuals with peripheral arterial disease: a narrative review
Introduction Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is an atherosclerotic occlusive process that involves the arteries of the extremities and burdens up to a quarter of a billion individuals globally. It is ranked as the third leading cause of atherosclerotic morbidity after coronary artery disease and stroke, making it one of the leading causes of disability. The…
Outcome measurement for vascular amputee patients: a scoping survey of UK clinical practice
Introduction Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and/or diabetes is the largest cause of major amputation.1 Individuals who have undergone an amputation due to vascular disease (‘vascular amputees’) often have multiple comorbidities, are older, frail,2 have decreased physical function and live with disability following their amputation.3,4 Vascular amputees often do not wear a prosthesis for ambulation for…
Surgical Site Infection in Major Lower Limb Amputation (SIMBA): an international multicentre audit: baseline unit survey
Introduction Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a common complication following any surgical procedure, accounting for 20% of all hospital-associated infections.1 The incidence of SSI following major lower limb amputation (MLLA) is particularly high, with a recent systematic review reporting an overall incidence of 7.2% and single-centre studies reporting rates up to 27%.2 SSIs are a…
Arterial assessment of the lower limb and foot: perceived benefits and disadvantages of current methods in contemporary practice
Introduction Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is now a major public health concern and World Health Organisation (WHO) sustainable development goal (SDG).1 As a non-communicable disease, the SDG target is mortality reduction and prevention of disease burden (SDG 3.4.1).2 Arterial disease outside the brain or heart is referred to as peripheral artery disease (PAD), a subtype of…
Infection of small abdominal aortic aneurysm following a diagnosis of large vessel vasculitis and initiation of immunosuppression: presentation, diagnosis and management
Abstract Large vessel vasculitis is characterised by inflammation of the aorta and its major branches. This article presents the case of a patient with a 3.9 cm infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm at the time of diagnosis with large vessel vasculitis. Three weeks following diagnosis and initiation of immunosuppression, the patient required an emergency open repair…
