Original Research

Effect of health literacy and socioeconomic deprivation on outcomes after lower limb surgical revascularisation for chronic limb-threatening ischaemia: the HeaLTHI study

February 29, 2024

Introduction Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and access services needed to make appropriate health decisions.1 Health literacy is a complex concept that is influenced by an individual’s educational attainment, race, age, deprivation and available healthcare services.2,3 There are a number of…

Long-term outcomes of major and minor lower limb amputation: eight-year retrospective analysis from a single tertiary referral centre

February 28, 2024

Introduction Major amputation is a life-changing yet common endpoint in the management of diabetic foot disease (DFD) and chronic limb-threatening ischaemia (CLTI). Less commonly, amputation is performed for traumatic limb injury, deformity, chronic pain or loss of function.1–4 Major amputation is estimated to affect 3–4% of all patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD)5 and 15–20%…

Vascular Anastomosis Course for Core Surgical Trainees (VACT)

February 9, 2024

Background On completion of Core Surgical Training, Core Surgical Trainees (CSTs) are expected to have an understanding of emergency and elective vascular conditions – specifically acute limb ischaemia, embolic arterial disease and vascular injury.1 These are CST curriculum index conditions that CSTs are required to know how to manage.1 In addition to this, an understanding…

Endovascular aneurysm repair using the Gore Excluder Conformable Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Endoprosthesis with active control system in octogenarians with highly angulated aneurysm neck: a UK single-centre experience

December 15, 2023

Introduction In March 2020 the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommended open repair as the primary treatment option for unruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs), while suggesting endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) as a viable alternative for individuals with a high anaesthetic risk. Octogenarians constitute a subset of the high-risk population. They exhibit…

Exploring the assessment, diagnosis and conservative management of patients with neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (NTOS): an online survey of UK medical and allied health professionals

November 19, 2023

Introduction Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a highly controversial medical diagnosis, as highlighted in a Cochrane review by Povlsen et al in 2014.1 Diagnosis is challenging due to the existence of four reported subgroups of TOS – namely, neurogenic, arterial, vascular and disputed – each presenting with diverse and wide-ranging symptoms.1-3 Authors describe three pertinent…

A quality improvement project on operative records

November 16, 2023

Background Accurate and legible operative notes are critical for providing high-quality postoperative care and they also serve a crucial role for medicolegal disputes.1,2 The General Medical Council (GMC) has emphasised the importance of good documentation as part of good medical practice.3 Additionally, the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCSEng) has developed a guideline that…