Non-cardiac vascular disease.

Correspondence to: Mr John H N Wolfe, Department of Vascular Surgery, St Mary’s Hospital, Praed Street, London W2 1NY, UK; john.wolfe@ st-marys.nhs.uk _________________________ T he recognition that atherosclerosis is a systemic process means that the fields of cardiology and vascular surgery frequently overlap. The cardiologist should have an understanding of the recent developments in the treatment of carotid artery disease, aortic aneurysms, and chronic limb ischaemia. Similarly, the vascular surgeon should recognise the incidence of coronary artery disease in their patients presenting with peripheral vascular disease and the need for cardiological assessment. The cooperation between the two specialties is being accelerated by the rapid development of endoluminal and minimally invasive techniques in each field.