The vascular surgeon clears the diseased vessels - widens them, removes changes (adhesions, aneurysms), and when necessary, inserts the so-called vascular prostheses, thanks to which the vessel starts to function properly again. Vascular surgery is a branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases related to the malfunctioning of blood and lymph vessels.

Vascular surgeondeals with the diagnosis and surgical treatment of diseases related to the improper functioning of blood and lymph vessels.Vascular surgerydoes not deal with vascular diseases in the field of neurosurgery and cardiosurgery.

Contents:

  1. Vascular surgeon - what diseases does a vascular surgeon deal with?
  2. Vascular surgeon - what tests does a vascular surgeon do?
  3. Vascular surgery - treatment methods used in vascular surgery

Vascular surgeon - what diseases does a vascular surgeon deal with?

The most important diseases that lie within the competence of a vascular surgeon are:

  • atherosclerosis (including, among others, atherosclerosis in the lower extremities, carotid arteriosclerosis) and inflammatory diseases of the circulatory system
  • diabetic foot syndrome
  • pulmonary embolism
  • treatment of narrowing and occlusion of arteries that can lead to strokes
  • aneurysms (including chronic, ruptured, inflammatory thoracic, abdominal, and visceral aortas)
  • acute and chronic venous diseases (including venous thromboembolism, varicose veins of the lower limbs, deep vein insufficiency)
  • chronic venous ulcers
  • tumors of the vascular system
  • Buerger's disease, or thrombo-obliterative vasculitis

Vascular surgeon - what tests does a vascular surgeon do?

Patients most often go to a vascular surgeon who complain about:

  • leg cramps and burning sensation
  • swelling, incl. around the ankles
  • feeling of heaviness

Patients who have noticed spider veins, varicose veins, complain of frequent tingling, numbness or lack of sensation in the limbs also report. These may be the first signs of a circulation problem, especially if it is disturbedmore and more brown or blue discolorations appear on the skin, indicating inflammation or cracking of varicose veins.

People with vascular surgeons also see pain, most often felt behind the breastbone, cough, and repeated shortness of breath, because it may be a sign of pulmonary embolism.

During the visit, the vascular surgeon will conduct a detailed interview with the patient, review the results of the tests performed so far, and examine the patient, especially if there is a suspicion of a disease whose symptoms can be seen with the naked eye, e.g. chronic venous ulcers. Depending on the condition, the vascular surgeon may refer you to specific tests to rule out or confirm the initial diagnosis.

The most frequently performed tests in the field of vascular surgery are Doppler ultrasound of the carotid, vertebral, lower and upper limbs, Doppler ultrasound of the veins of the lower and upper extremities, or visceral Doppler ultrasound. Doppler examination is non-invasive and very helpful in the diagnosis of many diseases. It gives an answer to the question of whether the blood flow is correct - where it flows slower, where it flows faster or goes backwards, which may indicate, for example, venous valve insufficiency. In addition, Doppler ultrasound gives an image of the capacity and cross-section of the examined arteries and veins, and thus allows you to detect possible narrowing of the arteries caused by atherosclerosis, the risk of venous thromboembolism or other diseases of the blood vessels in the abdomen, neck, hands and legs. Other studies used in vascular surgery include Computed tomography, arteriography, angioscopy, venography, and lymphography.

How do I get rid of spider veins?

Vascular surgery - treatment methods used in vascular surgery

After diagnosis, the vascular surgeon may decide to use non-invasive or minimally invasive treatments or, if necessary, refer the patient to surgery. It also qualifies patients for limb amputation, e.g. in the case of a diabetic foot.

The most frequently used methods include sclerotherapy (used in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency) or endovascular methods, which include:

  • percutaneous balloon angioplasty (a balloon catheter is inserted in place of the obstruction or narrowing of the vessel)
  • stent implantation (used e.g. in the iliac, femoral or carotid arteries)
  • stent graft implantation (used, among others, when an artery is damaged or in the case of an arteriovenous fistula)
  • atherectomy (involves the removal or reduction of atherosclerotic plaques using a special device)

If the vascular disease is very advanced or is life-threatening, the doctor may decide to undergo surgery (e.g. reconstruction and restoration of the arteries, bypass, surgical treatment of lymphoedema).

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