Your doctor would send you to a vascular surgeon or doctor if you're at high risk of vascular disease because of diabetes, high blood pressure and use of tobacco products.
You may also need to see a vascular surgeon or vascular doctor if you have symptoms of a vascular disease, such as chest pain during exercise or leg pain, cramping or swelling.
Some of the most common procedures vascular surgeons perform are carotid artery surgery, lower limb revascularization, endovascular repair of aortic aneurysms, and treatment of varicose veins.
For example, vascular surgeons handle blocked carotid arteries in the neck.
And vascular surgeons also treat the problems of the aorta (a large main artery) after it leaves the heart and enters the abdomen.
The signs of vascular disease are pins and needles, feeling, numbness, coldness of the affected body part, easing of pain during rest which is usually in the legs, worsening pain during exercise which usually occurs in the legs, shortness of breath and intermittent pain which can feel like cramps, muscle fatigue or heaviness usually in the legs.
A person would need vascular surgery if they have blood vessel problems which include blood clots, narrowed arteries, blocked arteries, aortic aneurysms, peripheral artery disease, carotid artery disease or chronic venous insufficiency.
You would be referred to a vascular surgeon if the doctor suspects you're at high risk of vascular disease as a result of diabetes, high blood pressure or from smoking.
Or if you have symptoms of vascular disease like chest pain during exercise or leg cramping, leg pain or swelling of the legs.
The tests that a vascular surgeon will do are Vascular ultrasound, Magnetic resonance imaging or MRI, CT angiography, Chest X-ray and Ankle/brachial index or ABI tests.
Vascular tests are tests that check the blood flow in your arteries and veins.
These tests are noninvasive and means they don't use any needles.
Vascular tests are done using high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to measure the amount of blood flow in your blood vessels.
The other name for a vascular surgeon is phlebologist which is the official terminology for a vascular surgeon.
A vascular surgeon or phlebologist is a physician that specializes in diagnoses and treatment of vascular conditions such as vascular disease, spider veins, varicose veins, leg pain, leg cramps, restless leg syndrome etc.
Vascular surgeons and phlebologists manage veins and arteries in every part of the body except the brain and the heart.
For example, vascular surgeons handle blocked carotid arteries in the neck.
And vascular surgeons also treat the problems of the aorta (a large main artery) after it leaves the heart and enters the abdomen.
You may be referred to and need to see a vascular surgeon or doctor if you're at high risk of vascular disease because of diabetes, high blood pressure and use of tobacco products.
You may also need to see a vascular surgeon or vascular doctor if you have symptoms of a vascular disease, such as chest pain during exercise or leg pain, cramping or swelling.
Some of the most common procedures vascular surgeons perform are carotid artery surgery, lower limb revascularization, endovascular repair of aortic aneurysms, and treatment of varicose veins.
Limb amputation is a procedure that vascular surgeons may use as a final resort.
This involves surgically removing a limb or part of a limb.
Signs and symptoms of vascular disease include.
Intermittent pain (claudication), which may feel like cramps, muscle fatigue or heaviness (usually in the legs)
Worsening pain during exercise (usually in the legs)
Easing of pain during rest (usually in the legs)
Coldness of the affected body part.
Numbness.
Pins and needles.
On your first visit to a vascular doctor the vascular doctor will provide a physical examination and talk to you about your medical history, vein problem and goals.
You may also have testing such as duplex ultrasound in our Vascular Laboratory to show us the blood flow in your veins.
Vascular surgery refers to open surgeries and minimally-invasive procedures that treat a range of blood vessel problems.
These include aortic aneurysms, peripheral artery disease, carotid artery disease and chronic venous insufficiency.
After vascular surgery you will usually stay in the hospital for 12 hours to 72 hours before being discharged from the hospital.