Although the glamour lies in arteries, the vascular surgeon puts far more people back to work as taxpayers by repairing venous disorders. Predictably, in a cost-conscious world, society is going to be less tolerant of arterial reconstruction and insist on more attention to correcting the nagging problems of venous insufficiency. This book concentrates on the filmy membranous valves that are at the seat of venous function. It is a comprehensive review of their anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology.
After a historical section including mention of William Harvey's first descriptions of venous valves, a chapter is devoted to embryology and gross and microscopic anatomy.
The subsequent chapters review various types of venous disease, with emphasis on abnormal morphology, function, diagnosis, and management. The clinical relevance of this material is obvious to all practicing physicians. The authors draw heavily on their own extensive experience in this field, quoting more than 50 of their