​Section of Vascular Surgery

About us ​

What is Vascular Surgery? ​

Vascular Surgeons deals with conditions pf blood vessels in the human body (arteries, veins, or lymphatics). The most common conditions encountered are  the leg pain and blackening of toes  due to poor blood supply (acute and chronic limb ischemia), dilated leg veins (varicose veins), leg ulcer/wound, leg swelling, aneurysms​ (ballooning of arteries) especially of the abdomen and limbs, and narrowing of arteries (stenosis), which, if left untreated can result in acute physical conditions like paralysis and limb loss. Vascular surgeons also deal with damaged/bleeding vessels to save limbs and lives. ​​

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​Challenges for Vascular Surgery as a 'Speciality' in Pakistan

Vascular surgery is relatively new but rapidly emerging  speciality in Pakistan.  Section of Vascular Surgery is one of first unit to offer its services  to the vascular surgery patients within the country. This was amind of  the significant challenges faced  such as:

  • Lack of trained vascular surgeons
  • Adequate training programmes in vascular surgery
  • Inadequate referral systems
  • Insufficient awareness about vascular diseases among patients and physicians

Peripheral vascular trauma, dialysis access surgery, and venous diseases are quite prevalent in Pakistan.  Aneurymal and atherosclerotic diseases are on arise. 

History

Section of Vascular Surgery was a part of General Surgery and was approved as a separate section in 2019. Dr Ziad Sophie was the founding section head.

Teaching

Undergraduate teaching

MBBS

​Year 4 medical students rotate in Vascular Surgery as part of the integrated vascular-orthopaedical and plastic surgery rotation. This integrated rotation was started in 2021.

In this short rotation, students are taught basics of common vascular conditions such as acute and chronic limb ischemia, deep venous thrombosis (DVT), diabetic foot, chronic venous insufficiency, and leg ulcer. This rotation has dedicated teaching sessions and clinical exposure in outpatient settings. Students are formally assessed at the end of this clerkship.

Post-graduate teaching

An intern is regularly rotates as part of  PGME internship program in Vascular Surgery for two months. The interns regard this rotation  valuable for improving their basic surgical skills, getting ample patient exposure and interaction in dealing  patients with vascular diseases. Very few centres within the country provide this opportunity to the interns.

Residency Programme​​​

General surgery residents are part and parcel of the section of Vascular Surgery. Senior general Surgery residents (Year 3, 4, or 5) lead the team along with vascular surgery fellows and junior residents (Year 1, 2). They are actively involved in teaching and patient care. The chief resident leads the morning round and is actively involved in clinical decision-making. 

Fellowship Programme​

Department of Surgery, AKU initiated the first-ever dedicated Vascular Surgery training as a fellowship for 2 years in 2003. This programme is the first of its kind in Pakistan. The vascular surgery fellowship program is now CPSP accredited. The programme's objective is to produce a competent and academically sound vascular surgeons.

So far, the following  7 fellows have graduated fom this program. 


Regular academic activities​

The section has the following regular academic activities​

​Annual Academic events

Read more.....

Research 

Section of vascular surgery is actively involved in research. The main areas of research interest are vascular trauma, hemodialysis access, venous disease, and endovascular techniques.

Contact Information

For the administrative office         +9221 3486  4708

For academic-related matters      +92 21 3486 4708​​​​​​​