Disappearing Act

So now we are in an era where conferences and symposia on vascular issues are devoid of vascular surgical input. This may have serious consequences for patients. Physicians, including young vascular surgeons, unaware of the benefit of surgical bypass, will continue to attack the leg arteries until all the target vessels are beyond salvage. Finally, the vascular surgeon will be consulted to remove the leg and the amputation prevention symposium will have achieved the exact opposite of its goals.

Dr. Russell H. Samson is a physician in the practice of Samson, Showalter, Lepore, Nair, and Dorsay and clinical professor of surgery, Florida State University, Tallahassee. He is also the medical editor of Vascular Specialist.