The vascular system is made up of vessels that carry blood throughout the body. Arteries carry oxygen rich blood away from the heart. Veins carry oxygen poor blood back to the heart. Diseases of the vascular system can range in severity from minor discomfort to diseases that can be life-threatening or that can severely decreased quality of life. Vascular surgery involves managing problems in the arteries and veins in every part of the body except the brain and the heart.
Conditions treated can include:
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Aortic dissection
- Aortoiliac occlusive disease
- Carotid artery disease
- Chronic venous insufficiency
- Lymphedema
- Mesenteric ischemia
- Peripheral and Visceral artery aneurysms
- Peripheral arterial disease
- Thoracic aortic aneurysms
- Thoracic outlet syndrome
- Varicose veins
- Vascular trauma
Having good blood flow is vital for wound healing. Vascular surgery and interventional radiology work together at the Center for Wound Healing to optimize blood flow and maximize the chances for good wound healing. Evaluation may start with a variety of noninvasive tests such as ultrasound or transcutaneous oxygen measurements. Depending on the results, further imaging such as CT scan or MRI may be recommended. Depending on the results of these tests, minimally invasive procedures such as angiography with ballooning, stenting, or atherectomy may be performed. In more severe cases, open surgery may be recommended.
