For a person suffering from injuries and disorders of the arteries, veins, and lymph vessels, a vascular surgeon could very well save his life. Vascular surgeons are medical personnel trained to treat diseases of the vascular system. Visit a vascular surgeon near you to find out about the exact treatment you should undergo.

What is vascular surgery?

Vascular surgery refers to various procedures to treat injuries and disorders of the arteries, veins, and lymph vessels. These surgical procedures are performed on the aorta and arteries and veins in the neck, abdomen, pelvis, legs, and arms, excluding those in the heart and brain.

There are various types of vascular procedures which include amputation, aneurysm repair, angioplasty and stenting, atherectomy and endarterectomy of non-coronary arteries, varicose vein surgery, vascular access procedures, vascular bypass surgery, including peripheral vascular bypass.

Most recognized vascular diseases

Vascular diseases are manageable and sometimes need no surgery. Below are some of the most recognized vascular diseases:

. An abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is a condition where an enlargement develops in a weakened area within the largest artery in the abdomen. A rupture or tear in an abdominal aortic aneurysm can cause life-threatening internal bleeding. Endovascular repair is the procedure to fix an aortic aneurysm.

. Carotid Artery Disease is caused when the main blood vessels to the brain develop a buildup of plaque caused by atherosclerosis, which is the hardening of the arteries. It can cause stroke, which is when the flow of blood to the brain is reduced or, more commonly, when they break loose and travel to a part of the brain. A vascular surgeon may perform this surgery to restore the blood flow to the brain. The arteries can become blocked again if health conditions such as high cholesterol are not managed and treated.

. Lymphedema is where lymph fluid builds up in the soft tissues of the arms or legs. Cancer treatments that damage or remove your lymph nodes cause Lymphedema. Blockage of the drainage of fluid in the lymph can cause Lymphedema.

. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a health condition in which clots of blood form in the body's deep veins, usually in the legs. It is dangerous as a clot can travel to the lungs.

Vascular procedures and surgeries

There are a variety of procedures. The five common surgeries are:

• Carotid endarterectomy: This surgery is used to remove atherosclerosis or open a carotid artery to prevent strokes.
• Dialysis access: This surgery is or patients who require dialysis for failing kidneys.
• Stenting: Stents are tiny devices to hold open blocked arteries in the affected artery using a minimally invasive procedure.
• Repair and treatment of aneurysms and dissections: This surgery involves both traditional open surgeries and minimally invasive endovascular procedures to repair and treat aneurysms and tears in blood vessels.
• Angioplasty: This surgery involves a minimally invasive procedure where a device such as a balloon or a stent is used to open a blocked artery and restore blood flow.

Summary

Vascular surgeons perform surgeries that involve blood and lymphatic vessels. These surgeons determine the course of treatment after evaluation and diagnosis with long-term monitoring. Vascular surgeons are trained to perform open, complicated surgery as well as minimally invasive, endovascular procedures. If you are a patient, it’s advisable to check a vascular surgeon near you and get the best medical attention at the earliest.