What is vascular surgery?

Vascular surgery is an umbrella term for a range of open surgeries and minimally-invasive procedures involving your blood vessels. Your blood vessels are a network of arteries, veins and capillaries that carry blood to and from your heart and nourish your organs and tissues. Many different vascular diseases can damage your blood vessels and raise your risk of complications.

Vascular surgeons diagnose and manage vascular diseases. Sometimes, lifestyle changes and medications can effectively manage your condition. Other times, you may need surgery to prevent the problem from getting worse.

Vascular surgeries include interventions that:

• Repair damage to your blood vessels due to vascular disease.
• Lower your risk of complications from these diseases.
• Create access to your blood vessels for medical therapies like dialysis.

Why would you need vascular surgery?

You may need vascular surgery if you have any of the following conditions:

• Aortic aneurysm.
• Blood clots.
• Carotid artery disease.
• Chronic venous insufficiency.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
• Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD).
• May-Thurner syndrome.
• Mesenteric artery ischemia.
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD).
• Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES).
• Renal artery stenosis.
• Thoracic outlet syndrome.
• Varicose veins.
• Visceral and peripheral arterial aneurysms.

A vascular surgeon evaluates your situation and decides the best treatment for you. Some people need surgery or a procedure along with medications.