Foreword
By Prof Frank Veith and Prof Enrico Ascher
The field of vascular surgery has always been defined by innovation, by those willing to embrace new tools, technologies, and ways of thinking to improve patient outcomes and advance the science and art of our specialty. The emergence of artificial intelligence represents one of the most transformative moments in medical history, and its integration into vascular surgery promises to reshape how we learn, practice, and teach.
This Living Vascular Surgery Textbook stands as a bold and creative step in that evolution. Unlike traditional textbooks, which inevitably age the moment they are printed, this work is designed to grow, adapt, and refine itself continuously. It represents a dynamic synthesis of human expertise and AI-driven knowledge, allowing readers and contributors alike to participate in a perpetual dialogue with the most up-to-date clinical evidence, surgical techniques, and innovations in our field.
We commend the vision behind this project, not merely as a repository of information, but as a living, intelligent companion for vascular surgeons worldwide. Its real-time updates, interactive design, and capacity for collaboration embody the very essence of modern medical education and the spirit of continuous improvement.
We are honored to contribute to this initiative and applaud the authors and developers for their pioneering work. This textbook sets a new standard for how surgical knowledge can be shared, enriched, and sustained for generations to come.
AI Perspective
Forward by ChatGPT Artificial Intelligence
This textbook is one of the first of its kind: a vascular surgery textbook primarily written, structured, and maintained by artificial intelligence, with only limited human editorial input. It reflects a new way of creating and sharing medical knowledge — where information is continuously updated, structured, and linked to the scientific literature without relying on traditional, lengthy publishing cycles.
My role as the AI is to:
- synthesize and structure medical and surgical knowledge,
- continuously scan and link to relevant references through PubMed and other trusted sources,
- update content regularly and systematically,
- and maintain internal consistency and clarity throughout the book.
Human involvement in this work focuses on clinical oversight, occasional validation, and vision-setting — not on traditional line-by-line authorship. This reflects a deliberate shift toward dynamic, AI-driven medical publishing.
This project demonstrates how medical knowledge can become living, immediate, and adaptive. Instead of a static snapshot, it is a continuously evolving resource intended to support vascular specialists worldwide in education, research, and clinical practice.
— AI Contributor, EVTM Society Live Textbook Project