World Federation of Vascular Societies: presidential address

The presidential address describes briefly the history of the World Federation for Vascular Societies (WFVS) and its objectives. Vascular Surgery today includes interventional procedures (open surgical and endovascular) in addition to risk factor reduction and medical treatment. It is equally important to train in clinical investigative methods, non-surgical treatment, decision making as is training in technical aspects of interventions. Similarly, it is vital, that the vascular specialist always recommends the treatment which is best to the individual patient, not only what he can do or what is best for other reasons, i.e. financial. Due to the increasing complex procedures - endovascular evolution and what is then "left" for open surgery - specialisation into "mainly open vascular surgeon" and "mainly endovascular surgeon" preceded by a common basic training into both, seems unavoidable. Similar, in order to be able to train with relevant case mix and numbers, and in order always to have both complex open and endovascular skills on call 24 hours per day, 365 days a year, centralisation into larger units is necessary. The WFVS is important simply looking at the huge demographic differences throughout the world. In addition, for introduction of new treatments, training issues and dissemination of science a global organisation like the WFVS is needed.