ABS Vascular Surgery study plan
ABS Vascular Surgery · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Aneurysmal disease (aorta and peripheral arteries) & Noninvasive vascular laboratory testing and diagnostic imaging
Differentiate repair thresholds for infrarenal, juxtarenal, and thoracic aortic aneurysms by diameter, growth rate, and symptom status, writing each threshold from memory without notes.
Interpret contrast CT and duplex findings that determine anatomic suitability for endovascular versus open aortic repair, including neck length, angulation, and access vessel caliber.
Explain the imaging conventions used to size aneurysms and the measurement choices that change operative planning.
Draft a side-by-side comparison of endovascular and open repair covering perioperative mortality, reintervention, and long-term surveillance burden.
Your checkpoint
A one-page aneurysm threshold and imaging decision table plus a 30-question timed quiz on domains 1 and 7, scored at 80% or higher with every wrong answer logged and corrected.
Peripheral arterial occlusive disease of the upper and lower extremities & Open and endovascular operative techniques and complications
Stage lower-extremity arterial occlusive disease using symptom classification and ankle-brachial index ranges, and state which stage triggers intervention.
Select bypass conduit and target vessel for femoropopliteal and femorotibial reconstructions, justifying each choice against patient and anatomic factors.
Outline the operative steps of an infrainguinal bypass and name the intraoperative pitfalls that produce early graft failure.
Describe recognition and management of failing grafts, access-site complications, and endoleak after endovascular repair.
Your checkpoint
Two operative-note style outlines (infrainguinal bypass and endovascular aortic access) each with a complication checklist, plus a 25-question mixed quiz scored at 80% or higher.
Arterial occlusive disease of the aorta and its branches
Map aortoiliac, mesenteric, and renal occlusive patterns and match each anatomic pattern to an open or endovascular option.
Distinguish chronic from acute mesenteric ischemia in presentation, imaging findings, and operative urgency, and state the bowel viability decision points.
Explain indications for renal artery intervention and separate atherosclerotic from fibromuscular disease in workup and prognosis.
Rank the branches of the aortic arch and visceral aorta by the clinical syndrome produced when each is occluded.
Your checkpoint
A case-based worksheet of 10 vignettes with written management plans, self-graded at 8 of 10 or better with a written correction for each miss.
Cerebrovascular and neurovascular disease of the neck
Correlate carotid duplex velocity criteria with degree of stenosis and symptom status, then state who meets criteria for intervention.
Compare carotid endarterectomy and stenting by indication, timing after symptoms, and complication profile.
Explain perioperative stroke risk reduction, including antiplatelet timing, blood pressure targets, and anesthetic and monitoring choices.
Recognize non-atherosclerotic carotid disease and vertebral or subclavian disease, and describe the workup that separates them from atherosclerosis.
Your checkpoint
A timed 30-question cerebrovascular block scored at 85% or higher, plus a single carotid duplex velocity criteria card written from memory and checked against source material.
Critical care and perioperative management of the vascular patient & Medical management, risk factor modification, wound care and amputation
Build a preoperative cardiac and pulmonary risk routine covering risk indices, beta-blockade, and which antiplatelet and anticoagulant agents to continue or hold.
Write a postoperative ICU protocol for major vascular surgery addressing hemodynamics, fluid strategy, analgesia, delirium, and ventilator liberation.
Manage anticoagulation and reversal around surgical and neuraxial procedures, naming agent-specific reversal options.
Apply wound care, offloading, and amputation level selection criteria to diabetic foot and ischemic wounds.
Prescribe risk factor modification with specific targets for smoking cessation pharmacotherapy, statin intensity, glycemia, and blood pressure.
Your checkpoint
A two-page perioperative checklist and a 10-item wound and amputation decision aid, plus a 25-question quiz on domains 9 and 10 scored at 80% or higher.
Vascular trauma and inflammatory/vasculitic disease
Triage vascular injury by hard signs, mechanism, and anatomic zone, and choose open versus endovascular repair for each pattern.
Explain damage-control strategy in the coagulopathic trauma patient, including shunt use and timing of definitive repair.
Differentiate giant cell arteritis, Takayasu arteritis, and Behcet disease from atherosclerosis by workup, vessel distribution, and treatment.
Recognize compartment syndrome, pseudoaneurysm, and arteriovenous fistula after catheterization, and describe the repair of each.
Your checkpoint
A 40-card trauma and vasculitis flashcard deck self-tested to 90% recall on two consecutive passes, with missed cards rewritten.
Venous and lymphatic disorders
Classify venous disease with the clinical, etiology, anatomy, and pathophysiology system, and select compression, ablation, or stripping accordingly.
Outline workup and treatment of acute iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis, including indications for thrombus removal and prevention of post-thrombotic syndrome.
Explain management of venous ulceration, recurrent varicose veins, and lymphedema, including compression gradients and adjunctive therapy.
Separate chronic venous insufficiency from lymphedema on physical examination and duplex findings.
Your checkpoint
A one-page venous decision algorithm plus a 20-question quiz scored at 80% or higher, and a written differential list for leg swelling and ulceration.
Aneurysmal disease (aorta and peripheral arteries) & Arterial occlusive disease of the aorta and its branches & Cerebrovascular and neurovascular disease of the neck & Peripheral arterial occlusive disease of the upper and lower extremities & Venous and lymphatic disorders & Vascular trauma and inflammatory/vasculitic disease & Noninvasive vascular laboratory testing and diagnostic imaging & Open and endovascular operative techniques and complications & Critical care and perioperative management of the vascular patient & Medical management, risk factor modification, wound care and amputation
Run four timed 25-question mixed-domain blocks under exam conditions and review every miss to its underlying fact.
Re-derive the ten highest-yield decision rules from memory, including repair thresholds, duplex criteria, anticoagulation reversal, and amputation level.
Audit the running error log and rewrite condensed notes for any domain still scoring below 75%.
Rehearse a 60-second verbal summary of each domain to expose gaps that multiple-choice practice hides.
Your checkpoint
A full-length 100-question practice exam scored at 80% or higher overall with no single domain below 70%, plus a one-page final review sheet of derived rules.
Milestones
Week 2: Deliverables from weeks 1 and 2 are filed, and the cumulative quiz average across domains 1, 4, 7, and 8 is 80% or higher; any block below 75% is retaken before week 3 begins.
Week 4: All four front-loaded deliverables are complete, the cerebrovascular block is at 85% or higher, and the error log shows no repeated miss on aneurysm thresholds or carotid duplex criteria.
Week 6: Flashcard recall is at 90% on two passes, the perioperative checklist is usable without notes, and the mixed-block average across weeks 5 and 6 is 80% or higher.
Week 8: Full-length practice exam scored at 80% or higher with every domain at 70% or higher, and the final review sheet is complete and re-derived from memory in one sitting.