Controversies in Vascular Surgery.

There have been significant advances in vascular surgery in recent years. These advances include procedural techniques, choice of procedure, and application of nonoperative management. Endovascular techniques have expanded greatly over the past decade.

Venous insufficiency, lymphocutaneous fistula, and use of autologous blood.

Lymphocutaneous fistulas are an uncommon occurrence that can present after surgical intervention in lymphatic-rich areas. A spontaneous lymphatic leak can occur in conjunction with lymphedema or in the vicinity of venous stasis ulcers. However, spontaneous lymphocutaneous fistulas are extremely rare.

A unique case of bilateral lower extremity post-endovascular aneurysm repair claudication.

The majority of abdominal aortic aneurysms have been treated by endovascular aneurysm repair in the past decade. Common perioperative complications after this procedure are mostly related to vascular access and improper stent-graft placement. We present the first case of bilateral lower extremity claudication due to severe angulation of the graft-aorta interface, which may have been prevented by a more critical consideration of the patient's anatomy.

Incoming residents' knot-tying and suturing skills: Are medical school boot camps sufficient?

Introduction: Many medical schools offer M4 boot camps to improve students' preparedness for surgical residencies. For three consecutive years, we investigated the impact of medical school boot camps on intern knot-tying and suturing skills when measured at the start of residency.

Methods: Forty-two interns completed questionnaires regarding their boot camp experiences.