Interview with Bruce A. Perler, MD, MBA
Rutherford’s Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy is now in its 10th edition; what does the new edition add to the field?
Robert Rutherford MD was an iconic leader in the history of vascular surgery in this country and internationally. This book, which is one of his many contributions to the field, carries on his legacy of leadership as the preeminent, most definitive, and encyclopedic and most widely respected text in the field of vascular surgical disease. This text is truly unique in the field in its multidisciplinary and international authorship, and its up-to-date comprehensive coverage of the art and science of circulatory disease. Dr. Sidawy and I as co-editors have been honored to be entrusted with the legacy of the Rutherford textbook, and have focused our energy on maintaining the highest quality of coverage of the field, while improving the presentation and value for the readership in the 10th edition through a very contemporary approach.
What is the most exciting aspect of the Rutherford’s Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, 10th Edition? What chapter or topic covered in the new edition are you most excited about?
For the first time in this history of the book, the majority of chapters in the 10th edition will present concise and comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms vital to the evaluation and management of patients with the condition covered in that chapter. This provides an immediate and concise reference for the practitioners.
Further, whereas the text traditionally included long and comprehensive coverage of broad areas, we have made an effort to present material in a more focused fashion in larger number of relatively shorter chapters, now totaling more than 200. This book provides a complete an in-depth presentation of common vascular problems as well as the esoteric, such as vascular oncologic conditions and pediatric vascular aneurysm and tumors.
In an era of diminishing open surgical experience, the book provides extremely well illustrated individual chapters on vascular exposure in all areas of the body, which will be of value for the vascular surgical trainee and practicing surgeon alike.
We are very excited about the most up-to-date coverage of the rapidly evolving endovascular treatment of complex aortic disease, including thoracic and thoracoabdominal aneurysms.
We’re very excited about the comprehensive chapters describing the development and operation of outpatient vascular centers, and the marketing and brand identification of vascular surgery. We’re especially proud of and believe the text may be unique in the field, in its coverage of the use of the internet and social media in the practice of vascular surgery, and the practice of telemedicine.
Who will find the greatest value from Rutherford’s Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, 10th Edition?
This book will be enormously valuable to the vascular surgery fellow and resident; general surgery resident, in their management of patients with vascular disease; and especially valuable to vascular surgery trainees as they prepare for vascular surgery in-service and board certification examinations. The comprehensive nature of the text makes it a must-have book for all practicing vascular surgeons after training. Further, we believe it will also be of great value to interventional radiology and interventional cardiology trainees and established practitioners in these specialties who care for patients with circulatory disease.
What new ideas, practices, or procedures do you hope your readers take away from the new edition?
As noted above, we believe practitioners will benefit significantly from the algorithms found throughout the text. We also believe the information presented on the business of vascular surgery, including outpatient practice, the effective strategies to use social media, and the practice of telemedicine, will serve as a valuable resource not only in the care of the specific vascular condition, but in the management of one’s practice in general.
Since all chapters have been updated from the 9th edition, readers will be able to take away the latest evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
What problem do you hope the future generation of your specialty will be able to solve?
An obvious aspirational goal is to ultimately prevent the development of arteriosclerosis, the #1 killer in the developed world.
Is there anything else about the book you’d like to say?
I consider it the highest professional honor to be entrusted by the SVS with the co-editorship of this monumental text, a crown jewel in the Elsevier portfolio in my opinion, and stewardship of the Rutherford name.
About the Author
Bruce A. Perler, MD, MBA
Julius H. Jacobson, II Professor of Surgery, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Vice Chair of Clinical Operations, Department of Surgery; Chief Emeritus Division of Vascular Surgery & Endovascular Therapy; Medical Director of the Vascular Noninvasive Laboratory, the Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.
Vice President, American Board of Surgery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Past Co-Editor, the Journal of Vascular Surgery Publications
Past President, Society for Vascular Surgery.
Past President, Southern Association for Vascular Surgery; Past President, Eastern Vascular Society; Past President, Chesapeake Vascular Society.
The innovations in more focused chapters is so welcomed. Illustrations of regional vascular exposure for open operations is so important, too. And, all the new information on practice and telehealth will be helpful to practicing surgeons. I agree that Rutherford remains the primary reference for us all.