The 2024 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines for the management of peripheral arterial and aortic diseases (PAAD) evaluate these vascular diseases together as part of the same cardiovascular system, appreciating that patients with aortic diseases are at risk of having peripheral vascular diseases and vice versa. Published in the European Heart Journal , the Guidelines are aimed at cardiologists, but were coordinated for alignment with guidelines for surgeons by EACTS and endorsed by VASCERN and ESVM. "These updated guidelines have been introduced now due to significant advancements and shifts in our understanding and management of aortic and peripheral artery diseases (PAD), including new treatment modalities, since the last guidelines were published in 2014 and 2017, respectively," says ESC Guidelines co-chair Professor Jose Fernando Rodriguez Palomares, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
"The decision to integrate these guidelines is based on several key factors. The aorta and peripheral arteries are integral components of the same arterial system. Disorders in one part of this system often have implications for the other," adds co-chair Professor Lucia Mazzolai of Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland.
"Combining the guidelines provides consistent and standardized recommendations for the management of arterial diseases as a whole. This ensures that patients receive cohesive and coordinated care across different vascular conditions, reducin.