Frequently asked questions

Vascular Surgery

Q1: What is vascular disease?
A: Vascular disease encompasses conditions affecting the blood vessels—arteries and veins—excluding those of the heart and brain. Common vascular diseases include peripheral artery disease (PAD), aneurysms, and chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). ​

Q2: What does a vascular surgeon do?
A: A vascular surgeon specializes in diagnosing and treating vascular system disorders. They manage conditions through medical therapy, minimally invasive procedures, and surgical interventions. ​

Q3: When should I see a vascular specialist?
A: Consult a vascular specialist if you experience symptoms like leg pain while walking, non-healing wounds, or if you have risk factors such as diabetes, smoking, or high blood pressure.

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

Q4: What is PAD?
A: PAD is a condition where narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs, often causing leg pain during walking and increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Q5: How is PAD diagnosed?
A: PAD is diagnosed using the ankle-brachial index (ABI), which compares blood pressure in the ankle and arm, and imaging tests like Doppler ultrasound.

Q6: What treatments are available for PAD?
A: Treatments include lifestyle modifications, medications, supervised exercise programs, and procedures like angioplasty or bypass surgery.

Aneurysms

Q7: What is an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)?
A: An AAA is an enlargement of the abdominal aorta that can rupture if untreated, leading to life-threatening bleeding.

Q8: How are aneurysms treated?
A: Treatment options include monitoring small aneurysms and surgical interventions like endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) or open surgical repair for larger aneurysms. ​

Carotid Artery Disease

Q9: What is carotid artery disease?
A: The narrowing of carotid arteries due to plaque buildup increases the risk of stroke. ​

Q10: How is carotid artery disease treated?
A: Treatments include lifestyle changes, medications, and procedures like carotid endarterectomy or stenting to restore proper blood flow. ​

Venous Disorders

Q11: What causes varicose veins?
A: Varicose veins result from weakened valves, leading to blood pooling and enlargement. Factors include genetics, prolonged standing, and pregnancy. ​

Q12: Are spider veins a medical concern?
A: Spider veins are usually cosmetic but sometimes indicate underlying venous issues. Consultation with a specialist is advised. ​

Q13: What is chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)?
A: CVI occurs when leg veins don't allow blood to flow back to the heart properly, causing swelling, pain, and skin changes.

Q14: How are venous disorders treated?
A: Treatments include compression therapy, sclerotherapy, endovenous laser therapy, and, in some cases, surgical interventions. ​

Diagnostic Procedures

Q15: What is an angiogram?
A: An angiogram is an imaging test that uses X-rays to view blood vessels after injecting a contrast dye, helping to identify blockages or abnormalities.

Q16: What is the ankle-brachial index (ABI)?
A: ABI is a simple test comparing blood pressure in the ankle and arm to detect PAD. ​

Surgical Procedures

Q17: What is endovascular surgery?
A: It's a minimally invasive procedure where catheters are inserted through small incisions to treat vascular conditions, offering quicker recovery. ​

Q18: What is open vascular surgery?
A: Open surgery involves larger incisions to access and repair blood vessels directly, typically used for complex cases.

Q19: What is carotid endarterectomy?
A: It's a surgical procedure to remove plaque from the carotid artery to prevent strokes. ​

Q20: What is EVAR?
A: Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is a minimally invasive technique to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm using a stent graft.