Opinion Review
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Cases. Sep 26, 2024; 12(27): 6032-6044
Published online Sep 26, 2024. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i27.6032
Vascular medicine in the 21st century: Embracing comprehensive vasculature evaluation and multidisciplinary treatment
Yoram Chaiter, Daniel Lyon Fink, Yossy Machluf
Yoram Chaiter, The Israeli Center for Emerging Technologies in Hospitals and Hospital-Based Health Technology Assessment, Shamir (Assaf Harofeh) Medical Center, Zerifin 7030100, Israel
Daniel Lyon Fink, Department of Pediatric Cardiology Unit, HaEmek Medical Center, Afula 1834111, Israel
Yossy Machluf, Shamir Research Institute, University of Haifa, Kazerin 1290000, Israel
Author contributions: Chaiter Y and Machluf Y conceived the idea for the manuscript; Chaiter Y, Machluf Y, and Fink DL reviewed the literature and drafted and revised the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: Https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Yoram Chaiter, MD, MSc, Academic Research, The Israeli Center for Emerging Technologies in Hospitals and Hospital-Based Health Technology Assessment, Shamir (Assaf Harofeh) Medical Center, Pinsker 72 street, Zerifin 7030100, Israel. chaiter@bezeqint.net
Received: January 29, 2024
Revised: June 25, 2024
Accepted: July 10, 2024
Published online: September 26, 2024
Processing time: 181 Days and 15.1 Hours
Abstract

The field of vascular medicine has undergone a profound transformation in the 21st century, transforming our approach to assessment and treatment. Atherosclerosis, a complex inflammatory disease that affects medium and large arteries, presents a major challenge for researchers and healthcare professionals. This condition, characterized by arterial plaque formation and narrowing, poses substantial challenges to vascular health at individual, national, and global scales. Its repercussions are far-reaching, with clinical outcomes including ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, and peripheral arterial disease—conditions with escalating global prevalence. Early detection of vascular changes caused by atherosclerosis is crucial in preventing these conditions, reducing morbidity, and averting mortality. This article underscored the imperative of adopting a holistic approach to grappling with the intricacies, trajectories, and ramifications of atherosclerosis. It stresses the need for a thorough evaluation of the vasculature and the implementation of a multidisciplinary treatment approach. By considering the entire vascular system, healthcare providers can explore avenues for prevention, early detection, and effective management of this condition, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes. We discussed current practices and proposed new directions made possible by emerging diagnostic modalities and treatment strategies. Additionally, we considered healthcare expenditure, resource allocation, and the transformative potential of new innovative treatments and technologies.

Keywords: Vascular medicine, Vasculature assessment, Holistic approach, Prevention avenues, Healthcare transformation

Core Tip: Early detection of atherosclerotic vascular changes holds the key to prevention, reducing morbidity and averting mortality. This manuscript emphasized the need to adopt a holistic approach to deal with the complex intricacies, trajectories, and ramifications of atherosclerosis. It discussed the need for a comprehensive vasculature evaluation with subsequent implementation of a multidisciplinary treatment paradigm.