TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Foreword A1 - Dieter, Robert S. A1 - Dieter, Raymond A. A1 - Dieter, Raymond A. Y1 - 2009 N1 - T2 - Peripheral Arterial Disease AB - Vascular disease has affected mankind since at least the beginning of recorded history. Ancient Egyptian mummies show evidence of calcification, atheromatous lesions, and other degenerative changes in the aorta, coronary, and peripheral arteries. Only since the mid-twentieth century, however, has vascular care evolved into a distinct specialty. To a great extent, this specialty owes its existence to surgical experience gained during wartime. Other important advances include the development of synthetic grafts and, later, of angioplasty procedures. Today, owing to the advent of minimally invasive technologies, the endovascular approach is widely used in the repair of vascular lesions. As the average age of the population continues to rise and as obesity, diabetes, and other chronic conditions take a growing toll, the need for vascular treatment can only be expected to increase. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/11/11 UR - accesscardiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1125963675 ER -