Vnitr Lek 2011, 57(9):672-680

Czech angiology and its transformation

M. Bulvas

III. interní-kardiologická klinika 3. lékařské fakulty UK a FN Královské Vinohrady Praha, přednosta prof. MUDr. Petr Widimský, DrSc., FESC

Over the last 25 years, Czech angiology has changed dramatically with respect to the diseases and conditions managed by angiologists as well as available therapeutic modalities. Such developments also required substantial expansion of the extent and character of specialist knowledge required from angiologists. Angiology manages to effectively correlate a clinical profession with non-coronary endovascular therapy and this has brought about a significant improvement in treatment efficacy and comfort. Physicians thus crossed a boundary of purely conservative treatment and focus on life and organ-threatening vascular diseases. Recent years have also seen an emergence of sub-specialities of interventional and acute angiology. The use of diagnostic and therapeutic catheterisation enabled angiologists to contribute to the care of patients previously managed by vascular surgeons and interventional radiologists; angiologists have become important contributors to the medical care provided by comprehensive cardiovascular centres.

Keywords: angiology; endovascular therapy; health care; vascular disease

Received: May 30, 2011; Published: September 1, 2011  Show citation