Vascular surgeons care for patients with problems involving arteries and veins of the neck, abdomen and extremities. Vascular surgeons are the only specialists trained to use all modalities of treatment including medicines, minimally invasive procedures and surgical procedures. We really should be called vascular specialists as most of what we do does not involve invasive or surgical procedures.

Peripheral Arterial Disease or PAD

• One in every 20 Americans over the age of 50 has peripheral arterial disease(PAD).
• PAD affects more than eight millioni people in the U.S.
• Individuals with PAD suffer a five-fold increased relative risk of a cardiovascular ischemic event and total morality that is two to three fold greater than those without PAD.

• Aging
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• High cholesterol
• Obesity
• Lack of exercise
• Males are more prone to PAD, but women are at risk as well
• Family history of vascular problems
• African Americans and Hispanics are at particular risk of PAD

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm or AAA

Your aorta is the largest artery in your body. An AAA occurs when the wall of the aorta progressively weakens and begins to bulge. It may continue to enlarge and eventually rupture if left untreated causing severe internal bleeding and possibly death. More than 15,000 people die each year in the U.S. from rupture of an aortic aneurysm. Nearly 200,000 people are diagnosed with AAA annually. It is estimated that more than one million people are living with undiagnosed AAA and at least 95 percent of these can be successfully treated if detected prior to rupture.

The most important aspect of abdominal aortic aneurysm is that they are silent killers.  Because they are difficult to detect patients may be unaware that they are present.  Screening of high risk patients with a simple ultrasound test can detect AAA.  Once detected, AAA can be followed and if it grows to a size where the risk of rupture increases, repair can be undertaken. For more information click the Abdominal Aneurysm link after clicking here.

Carotid Artery Disease

Carotid arteries are two main arteries that carry blood from your heart, up through your neck, to your brain. Carotid artery desease results when the carotid arteries become too narrow or obstructed from plaque and limit the blood flow to the brain. Strokes result either from obstruction of blood flow to the brain by the plaque or when bits of plaque and clots break off from the plaque and flow to the brain. Stroke remains the third leading cause of death in the U.S. with nearly 157,000 people dying annually. A large proportion of strokes are caused by plaque in the carotid arteries. In 2006 it was estimated that Americans would pay about $57.9 billion for stroke-related medical costs and disability.

Severe carotid artery disease raises a persons risk for stroke.  Interventions can be done to remove the blockage with surgery or to open up the artery with a stent.  The vascular specialist can determine when intervention is appropriate and which intervention is best for the patient. For more information click the Carotid Artery Disease link after clicking here.

Venous Disease and Varicose Veins

Common problems of the venous system include venous thombosis, venous insufficiency and varicose veins.  Deep vein thrombosis is a potentially deadly disease where clots form in the veins usually of the legs.  These clots can break loose and follow the blood flow through the heart and then lodge in the lungs.  This can cause a loss of lung circulation that can be fatal. For more information click the Deep Vein Thrombosis link after clicking here.

Venous insufficiency describes the loss of normal venous function.  The veins need to return blood to the heart for recirculation.  The veins rely on delicate one way valves to keep the blood moving towards the heart.  When these valves stop working due to thrombosis or hereditary factors blood will back up and cause the leg to swell.  Over time this can lead to skin damage, infections and ulceration. For more information click the Venous Insufficiency link after clicking here.

Varicose veins represent a form of venous insufficiency that affects the veins on the surface of the legs.  This often causes symptoms such as pain, aching, heaviness and swelling of the legs.  Most patients with varicose veins can be managed using minimally invasive therapies such as endovenous closure and sclerotherapy. For more information click the Varicose Veins link after clicking here.You can also get more information about varicose veins by clicking this link www.vnus.com