Vascular Surgery
Vascular surgery is used to manage a range of conditions that affect blood vessels other than those associated with the heart (coronary vessels) and those inside the skull (cerebral vessels). Its aim is to prevent loss of life, loss of limbs and stroke.
What key conditions are managed by vascular surgery?
- Aneurysms – localised widening of an artery (or in rare cases, veins)
- Carotid artery stenosis – narrowing of the carotid arteries in the neck
- Visceral artery disease – narrowing of the arteries to the organs of the abdomen
- Diseases affecting all veins, particularly the leg veins (known as peripheral vascular disease) and leg ulcers
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Haemodialysis fistulas used in the treatment of kidney failure
- Foot complications of diabetes.
What are the risk factors for developing a vascular disease?
The most important risk factor for vascular disease is age. Genetic pre-dispositions can also make some people more susceptible to vascular disease.
The following lifestyle factors can increase your risk of developing vascular disease:
- smoking
- low fruit and vegetable consumption
- physical inactivity.
How can I reduce my risk of developing a vascular disease?
You can prevent developing a vascular disease by:
Where to get help
Remember
- Vascular surgery is used to manage a range of conditions that affect blood vessels.
- This surgery aims to prevent loss of life, loss of limbs and stroke.
- You can reduce your risk of developing a vascular disease by quitting smoking, eating healthily and staying physically active.
Acknowledgements
Health Networks
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