ABSTRACT
Endovascular skills and the interventions derived from them are most e Rective in serving patients in need when they are used in a fashion that is complementary to, rather than exclusive of, other treatment options. From the standpoint of the patient, selecting the appropriate physician is a crucial factor in determining how an illness is managed. Physicians must be dedicated to the treatment of patients with vascular problems, not to one type of procedure or another. When the operator is committed to using one therapeutic approach, two results are likely: unnecessary complications arise and some patients are denied better treatment options. One of the signi Qcant judgment challenges in endovascular interventions is that the natural history of some vascular processes may be the same as or better than the outcomes possible with intervention. The clinician must understand that and be willing to implement that into clinical management when it is best.
