Endovascular Techniques

The shift in vascular medicine towards interventional procedures has been evident for years and is irreversible. The core task of the section is to promote endovascular training for vascular surgeons and to drive forward the implementation of these techniques in the portfolio of clinics.

In order to recognise qualifications in vascular surgery in the endovascular sector, the Private Academy awards certificates for "Endovascular Surgeon" and "Endovascular Specialist". Several hundred surgeons and specialists have now received the certificate. A broad-based course programme, some of which is supported by industry in recognition of product neutrality, enables participants to qualify for this certificate.

Curriculum

Endovascular training is enshrined as an integral part of the training regulations of the medical associations for the qualification of ‘specialist in vascular surgery’. However, the requirements for further training vary considerably across German hospitals. Furthermore, not every department offers the full range of modern vascular therapy options. Consequently, the scope of authorisation for further training differs between trainers and institutions.

The Endovascular Techniques Section has drawn up a curriculum for this purpose and revised it in 2017 and 2024.

Curriculum, 3rd edition (participation in the required courses after 31 December 2024). You can view this curriculum here as a PDF document.
Curriculum, 2nd edition (participation in the required courses after 30 June 2017). You can view this curriculum here as a PDF document.
Curriculum 1st edition (participation in at least one of the required courses before 1 July 2017). You can view this curriculum here as a PDF document.

Requirements for Certification as an Endovascular Surgeon

The DGG Private Academy certifies candidates as Endovascular Surgeons.

Endovascular Surgeon Requirements for certification according to the 3rd edition of the curriculum (= participation in the required courses after 31 December 2024)

Recognition as a vascular surgeon
Membership in a German-speaking society for vascular surgery
Proof of participation in:
- Basic course
- Advanced course 1: abdominal aorta
- Advanced course 2: Pelvic vessels (PAD aorta and pelvis)
- Advanced course 3: Femoral vessels
Specialist knowledge of radiation protection (specialist knowledge Rö 7 "Interventions" in combination with specialist knowledge Rö 4 "X-ray diagnostics in other limited areas of application" or specialist knowledge Rö 3.5 "X-ray diagnostics of an organ system. Vascular system".
Logbook with proof of at least:

Basic knowledge of endovascular work
- Independent performance of 50 justifications of the justifying indication
- Independent performance of 50 punctures with and without ultrasound
- Independent performance of 50 uses of a closure system
- 50 angiographies including subsequent, independent image processing, documentation of findings
  pAVK aorta and pelvis
- Independent performance of 50 interventions on the aorta/pelvis, either percutaneously or as hybrid procedures
  PAD thigh
- Independent performance of 50 interventions, either percutaneously or as hybrid procedures, on the thigh
  Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)
- Independent performance of 20 EVAR implantations
  
  Note: The evidence does not have to be provided for different patients. For example, a thigh intervention may include a justifiable indication, a puncture, an angiography, the intervention and the use of a closure system.

Please use only our template, which you can download here.

Send your application and all the necessary evidence mentioned above (in the form of a PDF file) by email to: dgg(at)gefaesschirurgie.de
Practical examination. Once your application has been reviewed by the Endovascular Techniques Section, you will receive your examination admission and will automatically be invited to the next available examination date.

The processing fee is €327.25 gross. This must be transferred after invoicing.

You can also review all criteria in this checklist as a PDF document.

Endovascular Surgeon Requirements for certification according to the 2nd edition of the curriculum (= participation in the required courses after 1 July 2017)

Recognition as a vascular surgeon
Membership in a German-speaking society for vascular surgery
Proof of participation in:
- Basic course
- Advanced course 1: abdominal aorta
- Advanced course 2: Pelvic vessels (PAD aorta and pelvis)
- Advanced course 3: Femoral vessels
Specialist knowledge of radiation protection (specialist knowledge Rö 7 "Interventions" in combination with specialist knowledge Rö 4 "X-ray diagnostics in other limited areas of application" or specialist knowledge Rö 3.5 "X-ray diagnostics of an organ system. Vascular system".
Logbook with proof of at least:

Basic knowledge of endovascular work
- Independent performance of 50 justifications of the justifying indication
- Independent performance of 50 punctures with and without ultrasound
- Independent performance of 50 uses of a closure system
- 50 angiographies including subsequent, independent image processing, documentation of findings
  pAVK aorta and pelvis
- Independent performance of 50 interventions on the aorta/pelvis, either percutaneously or as hybrid procedures
  PAD thigh
- Independent performance of 50 interventions, either percutaneously or as hybrid procedures, on the thigh
  Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)
- Independent performance of 20 EVAR implantations
  
  Note: The evidence does not have to be provided for different patients. For example, a thigh intervention may include a justifiable indication, a puncture, an angiography, the intervention and the use of a closure system.

Please use only our template, which you can download here.

Send your application and all the necessary evidence mentioned above (in the form of a PDF file) by email to: dgg(at)gefaesschirurgie.de
Practical examination. Once your application has been reviewed by the Endovascular Techniques Section, you will receive your examination admission and will automatically be invited to the next available examination date.

The processing fee is €327.25 gross. This must be transferred after invoicing.

You can also review all criteria in this checklist as a PDF document.

Endovascular Surgeon Requirements for certification according to the 1st edition of the curriculum (= participation in one of the required courses before 1 July 2017)

Recognition as a vascular surgeon
Membership in a German-speaking society for vascular surgery
Logbook with proof of at least:
- Stent grafts for BAA: 5
- Iliac-femoral interventions: 50
Please use only our template, which you can download here.
Proof of participation in the required courses, with at least one participation certified before 1 July 2017:
- Basic course
- Advanced course 1: abdominal aorta
- Advanced course 2: pelvic vessels
- Advanced course 3: thigh vessels
The processing fee is €238.00 gross. This must be transferred after invoicing.
Please also include your date of birth for the certificate in your application.
Send your application and all the necessary supporting documents mentioned above (in the form of a PDF file) by email to: dgg(at)gefaesschirurgie.de

Requirements for Certification as an Endovascular Specialist

The DGG Private Academy awards certification as a DGG Endovascular Specialist.

Endovascular Specialist – Requirements for certification under Curriculum 3rd edition (= attendance at the required courses after 31 December 2024)

DGG Endovascular Surgeon Certification
Logbook providing evidence of completion of 4 of the following 7 modules and a total of 175 procedures:
Module 1: Carotid and upper extremities
- Independent performance of 50 procedures on the supra-aortic vessels, including 30 procedures on the carotid artery (including hybrid procedures)
Module 2: Thoracic aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection
- Independent performance of 10 thoracic stent implantations for various indications
Module 3: Visceral vessels
- Independent performance of 15 procedures on visceral vessels
Module 4: Haemodialysis shunts
- Independent performance of 20 procedures on dialysis shunts (including hybrid procedures), of which 5 are central venous stenoses
Module 5: Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) – Popliteal and Lower Leg
- Independent performance of 50 procedures on the lower leg (including hybrid procedures)
Module 6: Deep venous system
- Independent performance of 20 procedures on the deep venous system
Module 7: General and organ-specific knowledge
- Independent performance of 10 procedures from a–d:
  - a. Catheter-assisted procedures on the superior or inferior vena cava (including cava umbrella)
  - b. Endovascular procedures in all vascular lesions (stenting, coiling)
  - c. Catheter-assisted thrombectomies and lysis treatments
  - d. Catheter-based treatments of AV malformations
Please use only our template for this purpose, which you can download here. The logbook must be countersigned by your supervisor.

Note: The target figures must be achieved in at least 4 of the 7 modules. A total of at least 175 of the above-mentioned modules must be documented. Each reconstruction of a target vessel as part of a fEVAR procedure counts as a visceral procedure. Similarly, an iliac side-branch graft is also classified as a procedure on a visceral artery.
Proof of attendance at at least 4 of the following 7 specialist courses:
- Specialist course 1: Carotid
- Specialist course 2: Thoracic aorta
- Specialist course 3: Pelvic and visceral vessels
- Specialist course 4: Shunt interventions
- Specialist course 5: Femoral, knee and lower leg vessels
- Specialist Course 6: Endovascular treatment of deep veins
- Specialist Course 7: Endovascular Treatment of Specific Conditions (Superior and Inferior Vena Cava; Trauma; Pulmonary Embolism, AV Malformations)
Please send your application and all the necessary supporting documents listed above (in PDF format) by email to: dgg(at)gefaesschirurgie.de
Practical examination. Once your application has been reviewed by the Endovascular Techniques Section, you will receive your examination admission and will automatically be invited to the next available examination date

The processing fee is €327.25 gross. This must be paid by bank transfer upon receipt of the invoice.

You can also review all the criteria again in this checklist as a PDF document.

Endovascular Specialist Requirements for certification under the curriculum, 2nd edition (= attendance at the required courses after 1 July 2017)

DGG Endovascular Surgeon Certification
Logbook providing evidence of completion of 4 of the following 7 modules and a total of 175 procedures:
Module 1: Carotid and upper extremities
- Independent performance of 50 procedures on the supra-aortic vessels, including 30 procedures on the carotid artery (including hybrid procedures)
Module 2: Thoracic aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection
- Independent performance of 10 thoracic stent implantations for various indications
Module 3: Visceral vessels
- Independent performance of 15 procedures on visceral vessels
Module 4: Haemodialysis shunts
- Independent performance of 20 procedures on dialysis shunts (including hybrid procedures), of which 5 are central venous stenoses
Module 5: Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) – Popliteal and Lower Leg
- Independent performance of 50 procedures on the lower leg (including hybrid procedures)
Module 6: Deep venous system
- Independent performance of 20 procedures on the deep venous system
Module 7: General and organ-specific knowledge
- Independent performance of 10 procedures from a–d:
  - a. Catheter-assisted procedures on the superior or inferior vena cava (including cava umbrella)
  - b. Endovascular procedures in all vascular lesions (stenting, coiling)
  - c. Catheter-assisted thrombectomies and lysis treatments
  - d. Catheter-based treatments of AV malformations
Please use only our template for this purpose, which you can download here. The logbook must be countersigned by your supervisor.

Note: The target figures must be achieved in at least 4 of the 7 modules. A total of at least 175 of the above-mentioned modules must be documented. Each reconstruction of a target vessel as part of a fEVAR procedure counts as a visceral procedure. Similarly, an iliac side-branch graft is also classified as a procedure on a visceral artery.
Proof of attendance at at least 4 of the following 7 specialist courses:
- Specialist course 1: Carotid
- Specialist course 2: Thoracic aorta
- Specialist course 3: Pelvic and visceral vessels
- Specialist course 4: Shunt interventions
- Specialist course 5: Femoral, knee and lower leg vessels
- Specialist Course 6: Endovascular treatment of deep veins
- Specialist Course 7: Endovascular Treatment of Specific Conditions (Superior and Inferior Vena Cava; Trauma; Pulmonary Embolism, AV Malformations)
Please send your application and all the necessary supporting documents listed above (in PDF format) by email to: dgg(at)gefaesschirurgie.de
Practical examination. Once your application has been reviewed by the Endovascular Techniques Section, you will receive your examination admission and will automatically be invited to the next available examination date

The processing fee is €327.25 gross. This must be paid by bank transfer upon receipt of the invoice.

You can also review all the criteria again in this checklist as a PDF document.

Endovascular Specialist Requirements for certification under the curriculum, 1st edition (= attendance at one of the required courses took place before 1 July 2017)

DGG Endovascular Surgeon Certification
Logbook providing evidence of 125 endovascular procedures. The following minimum numbers must be achieved in each category.
- Supra-aortic procedures: 50 (including 30 carotid stents)
- Thoracic procedures: 10
- Visceral procedures: 15
- Procedures on dialysis shunts: 20
- Procedures on lower leg vessels: 30
  Alternatively, achieving the target numbers in three groups is sufficient, provided that a total of at least 150 procedures are documented.
  Please use only our template for this purpose, which you can download here. The logbook must be countersigned by your supervisor.
Proof of attendance at at least 3 of the following 5 specialist courses, with at least one attended before 1 July 2017:
- Specialist course 1: Carotid
- Specialist course 2: Thoracic aorta
- Specialist course 3: Pelvic and visceral vessels
- Specialist course 4: Shunt interventions
- Specialist course 5: Femoral, knee and lower leg vessels
- Specialist Course 6:
The administration fee is €238.00. This must be paid by bank transfer upon receipt of the invoice.
Please also include your date of birth in your application for the certificate.
Please send your application and all the necessary supporting documents (in PDF format) by email to: dgg(at)gefaesschirurgie.de

Management/Members of the Section

Management/Members

Chair:

Prof. Dr Kyriakos Oikonomou (Frankfurt)

Deputy Director:

Prof. Dr Ingolf Töpel (Regensburg)

Members:

Dr Reza Ghotbi (Munich)
Dr Thomas Grube (Chemnitz)
Dr Marcel Hofmann (Vogtareuth)
Rustam Khodzhibaev (Brandenburg an der Havel)
Dr Thomas May (Cologne)
Prof. Dr Alexander Oberhuber (Münster)
Dr Viktor Reichert (Sindelfingen)
Prof. Dr Alexander Stehr (Mülheim an der Ruhr)
Prof. Dr Tomislav Stojanovic (Wolfsburg)
Dr Georg Straeten (Kevelaer)
Dr Christian Wack (Munich)
PD Dr Rolf Weidenhagen (Munich)
Dr Heiko Wendorff (Ebersberg)

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