There is a gap in international guidelines for acceptable wait times for cardiovascular surgery. Most patients benefit from surgery as fast as possible after the establishment of an indication. However due to extrinsic factors a continuous and cost-effective response is not feasible to all of them. Priority criteria for surgery after the indication is heterogeneous. The physician/surgeon is responsible for the surgical prioritization upon experience-based criteria. The prioritization is accepted by the hospitals most of the times, but incorrections are verified in excess and defect. There is a press in need for evidence-based prioritization criteria in cardiac and vascular surgery that maintains an adequate waiting time with maximum benefit. Surgical waiting times superior to what is clinically reasonable affects not only the patient but also the health system by indirect costs (morbidity, absence from work). The objective is to establish recommendations in extra-carotid disease, abdominal aortic disease, peripheral artery disease and vascular access construction. A review from the data is made to define an appropriate balance between the surgical scheduling and the prevention of pre an perioperatory adverse events.