Philip D Coleridge Smith DM FRCS

Medical Expert Witness – Vascular Surgeon – Medical Editor

Philip Coleridge Smith, Vascular Surgeon

Mr Coleridge Smith is Consultant Vascular Surgeon and Medical Director, British Vein Institute. He pioneered the introduction of duplex ultrasonography in the clinical investigation of venous disease in the UK. He is an expert in the treatment of venous disease using minimally invasive methods and has pioneered the introduction of ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy into the UK. He is well known for his many publications on venous disease, particularly those related to the pathogenesis of venous ulceration. With others he published a theory suggesting that leucocyte trapping in the microcirculation of the lower limb during venous hypertension is part of the mechanism that leads to skin damage and venous ulceration of the leg. He has undertaken scientific research into methods of preventing deep vein thrombosis in hospital practice. He has investigated the incidence of deep vein thrombosis in passengers on long haul flights. This work has been published in the Lancet.

In 1992 Mr Coleridge Smith became Editor in Chief of Phlebology and saw great advance in the scientific standards of this journal. In 2003 he left Phlebology to become editor of the European Journal for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery with responsibility for papers on venous disease and concluded his term of office in 2010.

Mr Coleridge Smith commenced his medico-legal work in 1999.

Education and qualifications

1971‑1974           Trinity College, Oxford

June 1974            BA Hons (Oxon), Physiological Sciences

(neurophysiology, cell metabolism)

1974‑1977           St Thomas’ Hospital Medical School, London  SE 1

June 1977            BM BCh (Oxon)

June 1978            MA (Oxon), Physiological sciences

June 1979            Primary FRCS, Royal College of Surgeons of England

June 1981            Final FRCS, Royal College of Surgeons of England

July 1995             DM, Oxford University

Present and past appointments

• Consultant Vascular Surgeon, British Vein Institute.
• Reader in Surgery, University College London Medical School, London. January 1995 present.

Participation in Learned Societies

• President, British Association of Sclerotherapists
• Member, Venous Forum of the Royal Society of Medicine.
• Committee Member, Angiology Forum of the Royal Society of Medicine.
• Member, European Venous Forum.
• Member, American Venous Forum.
• Member, European Society for Vascular Surgery.

Areas of expertise

• Peripheral vascular disease including diseases of arteries and veins.
• Ultrasound examination of the peripheral vascular system
• Limb ischaemia
• Deep vein thrombosis.
• Pulmonary embolism.
• Post-thrombotic limbs.
• Venous ulcers.
• Surgical treatment of vein problems.
• Laser treatment and radio frequency ablation of vein problems.

Consulting rooms:

The London Vein Institute, 4 Upper Wimpole Street, London W1G 6LF

The Bridge Clinic, Bridge Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 8DG

British Vein Institute, 24-28 The Broadway, Amersham HP7 0HP

Waiting time for an appointment for examination: approx. 2 weeks.

All correspondence:

Address:          British Vein Institute, 24-28 The Broadway, Amersham HP7 0HP

Tel:                  0870 609 2389

Secretary email: [email protected]

Types of report prepared:
Screening report – a preliminary assessment of the likelihood of successful litigation. (Non-CPR35 compliant).

Report addressing issues of Breach of Duty and Causation (CPR35 compliant)

Report addressing issues of Condition and Prognosis, usually following clinical and duplex ultrasound imaging examinations of arteries and veins. (CPR35 compliant).