COMMON VASCULAR DISEASE

Atherosclerosis

• The most common problem that vascular surgeons treat is atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. This condition affects virtually every artery within the body. 

Atherosclerosis of the Cerebral Arteries

• Blockage or narrowing of the arteries in the neck can predispose patients to suffer a stroke. Successful management of this condition requires early recognition of the disease, often even before symptoms occur, and prompt, safe treatment.

Stroke 

• Occurs when a portion of the brain receives inadequate blood flow and dies. This may be the result of a blockage or narrowing of the arteries in the neck leading to the brain. 

Aortic Aneurysm

• The aorta is the main artery that carries blood from the heart to every part of the body. Sometimes the aorta can develop a weakness in its wall due to atherosclerosis or other changes in the wall structure. This results in the formation of an enlarged area that balloons outward. The affected area left untreated will enlarge until it ruptures resulting often in the death of the patient. 

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Leg Aneurysms

• Leg aneurysms rarely rupture. In fact, they are more likely to become filled with a blood clot which can break off and go to other parts of the body. These clots, or emboli can lead to complete obstruction of that artery and abrupt loss of circulation to the body part it supplies.

Intermittent Claudication

• When the arteries to the legs are narrowed by atherosclerosis, a characteristic recurrent muscle pain occurs in the legs following exercise. This symptom, which is called intermittent claudication, usually is promptly relieved by rest alone and does not get progressively worse.
  
• In a small number of advanced cases, the pain may become constant and keep the patient from sleeping. If this "rest" pain is ignored, approximately one patient in ten will develop gangrene and may require amputation of part, or all, of their leg. However, few patients with intermittent claudication ever develop this disastrous complication.

Renal Hypertension

• Several of the main arteries within the abdomen can become narrowed by atherosclerosis. When this affects the arteries to the kidneys, the patient can develop severe hypertension, or high blood pressure, and ultimately kidney failure. 
  
• Although this problem occurs in less than 10% of people with high blood pressure, it is important to recognize because the patient's high blood pressure can be completely cured, or dramatically improved, by restoring circulation to the kidneys

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Varicose Veins

• Although problems with the veins are not as dramatic as those that follow arterial obstruction, they are a source of pain, suffering and economic loss to patients. The superficial leg veins can become very dilated and tortuous. Varicose veins may continue to enlarge and may be complicated by the development of blood clots or in advanced cases, by leg ulcers.

DVT (Deep Venous Thrombosis)

• The veins deep within the legs are prone to develop blood clots, especially in patients who are bedridden or following surgery. This results in a common, and serious, condition known as deep venous thrombosis, or DVT. Treatment usually involves "Blood Thinners" to control the symptoms and decrease the chance of clots travelling to the lungs. Occasionally clot dissolving drugs are neccessary. 

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