Original Research
Standards of radiation protection amongst UK vascular surgeons: a clinician’s perspective
Background The rapid evolution of endovascular technologies over the past 30 years has driven an exponential rise in the number of x-ray guided minimally invasive procedures undertaken by clinicians, including vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, angiologists and cardiologists. In the UK approximately 60% of all aortic cases are performed endovascularly1 compared with just 1% in 2001;…
Current practice in ultrasound grading of carotid artery stenosis in the UK and Ireland
Introduction The degree and severity of a stenosis near the carotid bifurcation and internal carotid artery (ICA) will determine the risk/benefit relationship for a patient undergoing carotid endarterectomy surgery.1 The diagnostic accuracy of duplex ultrasound in grading ICA stenoses is comparable to computerised tomographic angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and it remains an…
The prevalence and solutions to burnout amongst surgical trainees
Introduction Following the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers in the UK suffer high psychological distress.1 Increasing attrition rates globally, especially among female surgical trainees, highlight the need for prioritising surgical trainee well-being.2–4 However, there are limited data on the mental well-being and burnout experienced by surgeons and surgical trainees. Burnout is a syndrome comprising emotional exhaustion,…
Cardiovascular morbidity, mortality and risk management in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms
Introduction An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a focal dilation of the abdominal aorta with a diameter of 3.0 cm or more. Within the UK the national screening programme has shown an AAA prevalence in men aged >65 years of 1.57%, similar to that in the USA.1 The implementation of screening programmes for AAAs across…
Nurse-delivered endothermal venous ablation: 12 years’ experience at a single UK centre
Introduction Attention is currently being directed towards the care of patients with venous disease in the UK. Contemporary research supports early intervention of incompetent superficial truncal veins, especially beneficial to patients suffering from venous leg ulceration (VLU). However, there are significant difficulties in the delivery of venous services impeding the implementation of best practice. In…
Evaluation of the quality of phantom limb pain information on YouTube
Introduction Pain after amputation is an almost universal symptom in amputee patients with 95% reporting amputation-related pain.1 Of these, phantom limb pain (PLP) is the most prevalent at 80%.1 Increasing numbers of patients are undergoing amputations; an estimated prevalence rate in the UK is 26.3 per 100,000.2 PLP significantly reduces quality of life3 and has…
