Objectives:
This Fellowship aims to train selected surgeons in the field of Vascular Surgery. It is a comprehensive structured education program designed to graduate an independent vascular surgeon with high standard skills, broad base of knowledge and competent clinical decisions.
Although operative techniques constitute the most important aspect of the program, the training includes the opportunity to correlate the pathologic and diagnostic aspects of vascular disorders. The Fellow will be required to be skilled in the vascular laboratory diagnostic procedures, to be able to interpret the angiographic and other invasive modalities, and to exercise preoperative judgment, operative timing and to provide excellent post operative care. At the end of the program, the candidates should have adequate training in urgent and elective vascular surgery in order to have successful implementation of the health policy objectives of the Kingdom.
Admission Requirements (pre-requisites):
1) A basic qualification such as MBBS or equivalent degree acceptable by King Saud University.
2) Completion of Surgical Saudi or Arab Board Resident Training Program in General Surgery or its equivalent.
3) Pass successfully the interview for Vascular Surgery Fellowship.
4) Provide a written permission from the sponsoring institution of the candidate allowing him to participate, on full time basis for the entire period of the program.
Duration:
The Fellowship is for 36 months.
Number of Positions:
1 Fellow per 4 beds/year (as approved by Saudi Council)
Place of Training:
The program is based at the College of Medicine and the activities
conducted at the King Khalid University Hospital. Full training program can be undertaken within the capacity of King Khalid University Hospital. Part of the training may be spent in rotation at other hospitals, e.g. King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh Military Hospital or other hospitals outside the Kingdom according to the deals organized between the Board committee and other international vascular surgery centers. Those hospitals will be included in the rotation subject to prevailing staffing and facilities as advised by the Saudi Council. Continuous evaluation of those hospitals for inclusion in the program will be done regularly by the Board Committee on the base of these accreditation criteria.
Facilities:
The fellow will have access to all facilities provided by all participating hospitals. The fellow will also have access to outpatients clinics, operating rooms and academic activities of the hospitals he/she is attached to during their rotation.
Content of training:
Upon completion of the training program, the trainees should have gained enough clinical and technical experiences to practice as a safe and competent vascular surgeon especially in the management of emergency cases and limb threatening procedures. He should be able to assess, evaluate and diagnose general problems and safely manage them. The content of training includes the following:
A) Academic and Clinical Activities
This includes ward rounds, grand rounds, journal clubs, radiology joint meetings, morbidity and mortality meetings, and other similar activities. Minimum will show a progress towards independent care in all facets of vascular surgery including diagnosis, investigation, management plans for both acute and chronic care.
B) Technical skills
The trainee shall be required to keep a logbook wherein he/she shall record all activities and skills performed and learned during the training program. The activities should be dated and categorized to the period/rotation of training and to whether it has been performed by the trainee himself or as an assistant or participant. Each activity registered in the logbook should be countersigned by the trainer, and an evaluation of rotation to be countersigned by the Program Director when deemed complete.
Contents of Log Book include:
- Operative procedures and technical skills acquired during the training period with a minimum involvement of the following procedure:
* Carotic Enndarterectomy 20-30 cases
* Distal bypass 30-40 cases
* Upper limb revascularization 10-20 cases
* Vascular access 40-50 cases
* Venous surgery 40-50 cases
* Diabetic foot 30-40 cases
* Amputation 10-15 cases
* Embolectomy 10-20 cases
* Aortic surgeries 10-20 cases
- Major invasive and non-invasive diagnostic monitoring procedures performed or learned.
- Participation and attendance of symposia, conferences, workshop and training courses.
C) Research Activity
During the Fellowship, the Fellow would be expected to:
1) Conduct at least one restropective chart review and submit the finding
or publication.
2) Submit at least one case report for publication.
D) Conferences
The Fellow is encouraged to attend all conferences held by the Vascular Surgical Section and the Department of Surgery, including Surgical Grand Rounds, mortality and morbidity conference, vascular surgical conferences and Riyadh Vascular Club Meetings.
The trainee will be responsible for presenting cases to case conferences and to give lecture rounds on topics of his/her interest.
Board Examination:
This examination is given to candidates after successful completion of training, as evidenced by an acceptable final end of training evaluation. Examination held at least once per year in one or more of the training centers. Candidates are allowed a total of three (e) attempts to pass this examination within a period of three (3 years) after completion of training.
The final examination consists of two parts
1) Written Part
Designed to evaluate knowledge of principles of vascular surgery and clinical judgment. Only successful candidates in this part are allowed to sit the clinical/oral part.
2) Clinical/Oral Part
Designed to test clinical skills/abilities and judgment in the field of vascular surgery.
Certification:
Candidates passing the final board examination are awarded to Specialty Certificate, “King Saud Fellowship in Vascular Surgery”.
