Vascular surgery--is it different?

In 1972 the Society for Vascular Surgery and the North American Chapter of the International Cardiovascular Society recommended that the American Board of Surgery establish a method for the certification of special competence in vascular surgery. The American Board of Surgery in 1974 judged that, for the present, vascular surgery training best could be upgraded by certifying training programs and not individuals. The Residency Review Committee for Surgery now has approved guidelines which define acceptable vascular surgery training programs. These guidelines require approval of the American Medical Association and the governing bodies of the Liaison Committee for Graduate Medical Education before accreditation procedures can be implemented. It is proposed that vascular surgery is different enough from general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery so that special training programs are needed. Vascular surgeons require a fund of knowledge and surgical skills beyond that learned in most surgical programs as well as a special experience with vascular operations if they are to provide optimal patient care. Acceptance of the principle of the accreditation of surgeons caring for vascular surgical problems is an important step in the upgrading of vascular surgery.