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To be or not to be: Are AI surgeons the future?
“Soon, AI will be able to perform surgery independently.” As a PGY-4 vascular surgery resident conducting AI research, I encounter this prediction somewhat frequently. I have to wonder — do we (surgeons) want this? Autonomous surgery could potentially expand access…
Adam Smith, Hippocrates, Pogo and the great American health care mess: Part two
In part one of this article, we discussed the intrusion of corporatization into a profession. The question was asked whether Adam Smith’s economic principles could be applied to health care. In this segment, physician responsibility will be examined. Hippocratic Oath…
Payment for the new LER codes: It’s not just about the work
The new Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes and associated values for lower extremity revascularization (LER) took effect Jan. 1, 2026. These 46 new codes represent a significant update from the last time these codes were revised in 2011. As noted…
The thrill is gone: Preserving dialysis access
I can feel Brian’s presence hovering over me before he speaks and I know what’s coming. He’s fielded a call from a dialysis patient we take care of and there’s an issue with their fistula. It may be high pressures,…
Industry sponsored courses: A proposal for informed participation
Industry‑sponsored courses can facilitate hands-on exposure and expert-led discussion of new technology, additional operative skill practice and networking with practicing vascular surgeons leading workshops. However, as participants (i.e. vascular surgery residents/fellows, medical students and even early career vascular surgeons) it…
Adam Smith, Hippocrates, Pogo and the great American health care mess: Part one
Two Florida Hospital systems — as well as the Cleveland Clinic, Mt Sinai and Johns Hopkins — have been in a contract war with Blue Cross and Blue Shield for almost six months. The failure to arrive at a mutually…
Phaedro’s dog and Dr. Oz: Reclaiming physician leadership in health care
The novel I, Claudius, is a historical fiction written by Robert Graves in 1934. Daily life amidst Rome’s political decay during the despotic regimes of Augustus, Tiberius and Caligula is richly described. Claudius’ grandmother was the sinister Livia who manipulated…
Missing a step? Searching for meaning in claudication research
A team of leading vascular surgeons in the care of patients with PAD weigh up evidence for the treatment of claudication, calling for research focused on clarifying who should be revascularized, and who should continue with medical management and exercise…
Changing the game in knee osteoarthritis: A vascular approach
Chinmaya Shelgikar, MD, discusses the benefits of vascular surgeons performing geniculate artery embolization. Geniculate artery embolization (GAE) is an intra-arterial, catheter-based procedure used to treat chronic knee pain that is caused by osteoarthritis (OA). It targets the distal branches of the…
How important is complex endovascular aortic training in the current landscape?
Just a few years ago, it was commonly accepted that training in complex endovascular aortic operations (e.g. physician-modified endografts [PMEGs], use of in-situ laser fenestration, redo-branched aortic interventions etc.) depended heavily on the location and practice of the institution where…