Each year, Jefferson surgeons conduct more than 300 vascular reconstruction cases of all types. Residents on the vascular service can expect to gain experience in a wide range of operations: carotid endarterectomy, vertebral-artery reconstruction, aortic and peripheral aneurysm treatments including endograft placement, angioscopy and extremity revascularization (including in situ saphenous-vein bypass). The program offers additional expertise in, and clinical exposure to, thoracic outlet syndrome and reflex-sympathetic dystrophy, providing more than 100 operations per year for these disorders.

The resident's clinical duties include completely evaluating patients preoperatively, performing vascular operations under supervision and providing postoperative care. Bedside teaching rounds and one-to-one interaction with attendings enhance this experience. Since the program does not have vascular-surgery fellows, the chief surgical resident manages all vascular cases, with general surgical residents having an important role as well.

Residents benefit further from access to Jefferson's noninvasive vascular lab, a joint effort of the departments of surgery and radiology. This well-equipped facility, one of the most comprehensive in the United States, offers residents valuable experience in noninvasive testing.

In addition, vascular-surgery residents work closely with the interventional radiology program, taking advantage of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and a number of other advanced diagnostics. In an active, combined approach, residents cooperate with radiologic residents in catheterization procedures for such conditions as peripheral disease in the distal extremities. Residents will also become familiar with emerging interventional radiological techniques such as aortic stenting for the treatment of abnormal aortic aneurysms.

Some of the best vascular fellowships in the country accept Jefferson residents who have chosen to pursue vascular surgery.