Based on feedback from candidates who have sat the FRCS (Vasc) over the past five sittings, these are the topics that appear most consistently. Focus your revision on these areas and you will cover the majority of the examinable content.
1. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm management — screening, surveillance thresholds, EVAR vs open repair, emergency management of rupture. Know EVAR-1, DREAM, and UK Small Aneurysm Trial.
2. Carotid disease — indications for intervention, CEA vs CAS, timing after stroke/TIA. Know ECST, NASCET, ICSS, and the NICE guidelines.
3. Critical limb-threatening ischaemia — WIfI classification, revascularisation strategies, when to amputate. Understand the BASIL trial and its implications.
4. Diabetic foot — multidisciplinary management, Charcot neuroarthropathy, infection classification. Be familiar with the NICE diabetic foot pathway.
5. Varicose veins — investigation, NICE guidelines on intervention, thermal ablation vs surgery. Know the CLASS and EVRA trials.
6. Venous thromboembolism — acute DVT management, PE management, catheter-directed thrombolysis. Understand the ATTRACT trial and the role of anticoagulation.
7. Thoracic aortic disease — classification, acute vs chronic management, TEVAR indications. Know the Stanford and DeBakey classifications.
8. Vascular trauma — hard and soft signs, damage control principles, endovascular options. Be prepared for scenario-based questions.
9. Renal artery stenosis — investigation, medical vs interventional management, fibromuscular dysplasia. Know ASTRAL and CORAL trials.
10. Mesenteric ischaemia — acute vs chronic, investigation, revascularisation options, non-occlusive mesenteric ischaemia.
For each topic, ensure you can discuss: the relevant anatomy, pathophysiology, investigation pathway, management algorithm, key trials, and current guidelines. The examiners want to see that you can apply knowledge to clinical scenarios, not just recite facts.