4 Times You Might Need to Have Work Carried Out by a Vascular Surgeon
Vascular surgeons provide care for a wide variety of scenarios, and unfortunately, most people will be referred to one when in the emergency room. However, if you have been referred to a vascular surgeon, you may be curious about what it is they do, why you have been referred and what to expect.
The vascular system is the collection of arteries and veins which run around your body, controlling your circulation and transporting vital oxygen and blood to your limbs. Anything that is to do with this part of the body is likely to involve a vascular specialist, potentially just at the beginning of other procedures to act as a consultant, or they may undertake all the work on you themselves. While it is different from cardiac surgery, the two do cross over.
Much of the work that you will undergo can be done as an out patient procedure with a local anaesthetic, meaning that you can be home and recovering in a matter of hours sometimes.
What is the scope of vascular surgery work?
If your doctor suspects you have an issue with your circulation, they will refer you to a vascular surgeon. They will start the diagnosis process, carry out the procedure and work with you on a follow-up basis to ensure you make a full and thorough recovery. Increasingly, vascular surgeons are also involved in the treatment of conditions such as diabetes, especially when there is a risk that circulation in the feet has been compromised.
What are the 4 most common types of work they carry out?
Although the scope of their work is varied, and getting increasingly more so, there are still four common types of surgery and treatment carried out by vascular surgeons:
- Varicose vein treatment - Vascular surgeons are capable of non-invasive treatments which can repair the damage done to veins.
- Aneurysm repair - Vascular surgeons are the first port of call for aneurysm treatment, which, depending on the severity, will either be treated with open or closed surgery.
- Amputation - Increasingly so as the number of diabetes cases rises, if you require amputation, you can be sure that your vascular surgeon will do their utmost to help you through the process.
- Carotid artery treatment - If you are at risk of a stroke, a vascular surgeon can carry out a cleaning process on the carotid arteries to prevent the build-up of plaque which increases your risk of a heart attack.
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