Vascular Surgery
Vascular surgery is used to treat arteries and veins that have become diseased. Veins and arteries make up the vascular system where gases, hormones, and chemicals are moved throughout the human body.
What is Vascular Surgery?
Vascular Surgery Basics
Vascular surgery is used to treat arteries and veins that have become
diseased. Veins and arteries make up the vascular system where gases,
hormones, and chemicals are moved throughout the human body. Vascular
surgery is normally limited invasive procedures through the use of
catheters and reconstructive surgery. Originally during development
vascular surgery included cardiac surgery as well as general surgery.
Nikolai Korotkov of Russian first developed some of the vascular
techniques still used today. Robert Paton of Australia is also credited
with developing vascular surgery and ensuring that the practice became
a recognized specialty. Vascular surgery first came to the United
States through San Francisco in the 1970s when Edwin Wylie began
training in and studying the techniques and practices.
In present day physicians specializing in vascular diseases are trained
to manage and diagnose all portions of the system with the exclusion of
the brain and the heart. These two vascular staples are instead treated
by cardiothoracic surgeons and neurosurgeons.
Surgery Treatment
The surgery of diseased veins and arteries is steadily becoming less
invasive and also includes treating through non-operative varicose vein
treatment, angiography, sclerotherapy, stenting, and endovenous laser
treatment. One of the biggest advantages to having vascular surgery is
the lessened time in the hospital and lower rates of morbidity.
Shortened hospital stays can result in lower cost.
Angiography facilities are now open around the United States, as well
as in the Utah area. These new facilities are for private surgery
practice in clinics rather than hospitals. These clinics can lower the
cost of surgery when an individual is treated for nearly any kind of
arterial endovascular procedure.
Other countries, as well as the United States, now have non-operative
treatment for the vascular system through clinics. Non-vascular surgery
can also include treating varicose veins through phlebologists,
physicians, and radiologists. Many of these procedures eliminate the
need for surgery and instead treat through surface treatment.
Specialty Types
The specialty of vascular surgery includes several different categories
that branch in all directions. Arterial disease specialties -- namely
diabetes -- include aneurysms and ischemia. Ischemia includes limb
ischemia that includes acute limb ischemia, chronic limb ischemia,
renal ischemia, and mesenteric ischemia.
Acute limb ischemia include thrombectomies, anti-coagulation,
embolectomies, and thrombolysis, while chronic limb ischemia includes
diabetic foot ulcers, peripheral artery occlusive disease, and
intermittent claudication. Arterial disease also includes extracranial
cerovasuclar disease with vertebral system surgery and carotid
endarterectomy.
Venous disease specialties include deep vein thrombosis,
thrombophlebitis, varicose veins, varicosities, and venous
malformations. Lymphatic disease specialties include lymphodema, while
vascular medicine specialties include vascular component medical
disorders. These medical disorders can include hyperhidrosis,
scleroderma, and Raynaud's syndrome.
Procedures
Vascular surgery can encase several different kinds of surgeries as the
venous system is very complex and large. Some of these include
abdominal aortic aneurysm, carotid stenosis, varicose veins, peripheral
arterial occlusive disease, acute limb ischemia, and aortic dissection.
Many physicians offer these kinds of procedures in the Utah area.
Available physicians include Alan Russell Koslow of Salt Lake, Steven
Charles Simper of Salt Lake, Michael D. Khoury of St. George, Faheem
Akhtar of Sandy, Mark Russell Sarfati of Salt Lake, Grant Bryan Erikson
of Sandy, Robert P. Smilanich of Provo, and others.