ABSTRACT
Surgical heritage has prompted surgeons to be comfortable with huge incisions but not tiny ones. The development of endovascular and videoscopic techniques is changing that. A brief retrospective evaluation of the history of these Qelds suggests that the thousands of physicians, engineers, and entrepreneurs and the millions of dollars dedicated to making standard open surgery a thing of the past will eventually be successful, at least to a degree that will continue to signi Qcantly a Rect the treatment of vascular disease. Miniaturization, if safe and e Ricacious, will be a great bene Qt to patients. Vascular specialists must be ready and able to provide percutaneous services.
