Curriculum Reading List


2021 RCOA Anaesthetics Curriculum  - Annex E - Stage 3 Special Interest Areas; Anaesthesia for vascular surgery 

Below is a selection of CPD articles, key trials and editorials which have been mapped to the new Royal College Curriculum (2021). It is based on the key capabilities in stage 3 - special interest areas (Anaesthesia for Vascular Surgery).

This is not an exhaustive, or comprehensive list to cover these areas, but is designed to offer trainees and trainers some direction and guidance to their Vascular training time. It may also be beneficial to those revising for their final FRCA exams.

Suggestions for further material in this page would be most welcome (via Education and training sub-committee).

Key Capabilities A 

Capable of providing advanced cardiovascular risk assessment relating to vascular surgery. 

Suggested reading: 

ESC 2014 guidelines; CV assessment and management  

Durrand J and Danjoux G. Preoperative assessment of patients for major vascular surgery. Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine. Volume 20, Issue 5, May 2019, Pages 257-261 .  

Zarinsefat A and Henke P. Update in preoperative risk assessment in vascular surgery patients J Vasc Surg 2015;62:499-509.  

Key Capabilities B 

Manages the preoperative care of elective and emergency open AAA repair. 

Suggested reading: 

Abdominal aortic aneurysm: diagnosis and management - NICE guideline NG156,2020. 

Abdominal aortic aneurysm: diagnosis and management – Evidence review L: Anaesthesia and analgesia for people having surgical repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm – NICE guideline NG156, 2020. 

Management and Transfer of Patients with a Diagnosis of Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm to a Specialist Vascular Centre – RCEM Best Practice Guideline, 2019. 

Howell SJ. Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in the United Kingdom: an exemplar for the role of anaesthetists in perioperative medicine. British Journal of Anaesthesia, 119 (S1): 15–22, 2017. 

Leonard A. Anaesthesia for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. CEACCP 8(1): 11 – 15, 2008. 

Al-Hashimi M. Anaesthesia for elective open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. CEACCP 13(6): 208 – 212, 2013. 

Cheesman M. Anaesthesia for the ruptured aortic aneurysm. Vascular Anaesthesia 17(5): 243-248, 2016. 

Key Capabilities C 

Manages the preoperative care of complex endovascular repair of thoracic and aortic aneurysm. 

Suggested Reading: 

NEJM 2010 – Endovascular versus Open Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (EVAR 1 Trial):  

Lancet 2016 - Endovascular versus open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm in 15-years’ follow-up of the UK endovascular aneurysm repair trial 1 (EVAR trial 1): a randomised controlled trial 

NEJM 2010 – Endovascular Repair of Aortic Aneurym in Patients Physically Ineligible for Open Repair (EVAR 2 Trial):  

BJAED 2012– Complex endovascular aortic aneurysm repair  

Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine 2019 – Anaesthesia for endovascular aneurysm repair  

Kothandan H. Anaesthetic considerations for endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Annals of Cardiac Ananaesthesia, 19(1): 132 – 141, 2016. 

BJA 2016 – Spinal cord protection in aortic endovascular surgery 

Key Capabilities D 

Manages the perioperative care for patients requiring carotid endarterectomy under general and regional anaesthesia 

Suggested reading: 

CEA review BJA 2007 

GALA trial summary Lancet 2008 

RA or GA for CEA review 2012 

Regional anaesthesia for carotid endarterectomy Review BJA 2015 

NYSORA US guided cervical plexus block 

Arterial pressure management and carotid endarterectomy Review BJA 2009 

Anesthesia Management for Carotid Endarterectomy: Review Article EJCM 2019  

Key Capabilities E  

Provides perioperative care of patients requiring vascular access procedure for renal dialysis. 

Suggested Reading: 

Anaesthetic management for vascular access surgery BJA CPD 2017 

RA for AVF BJA editorial 2021 

Key Capabilities F 

Appreciates the complexities in organising regional vascular services. 

Suggested Reading: 

Guidelines for the Provision of Anaesthesia Services for Vascular Procedures RCOA 2020 

GIRFT VASCULAR SERVICES REPORT 2018