Venous Disease
Varicose veins can cause leg aching and fatigue, ankle swelling, blood clots, sores or bleeding. Compression stockings can relieve the discomfort due to varicose veins and prevent complications. Varicose veins can often be treated with less invasive procedures that can be performed under local anesthesia in the office. Rarely vein stripping is still required.
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Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
An aortic aneurysm is a bulge in a weak part of the aorta, the largest artery in the body. Aortic aneurysms usually occur in the abdomen and less commonly in the chest. They are a health risk because they can burst or rupture, which is often fatal. Small aneurysms are usually monitored with ultrasound. Larger aneurysms are repaired either with a stent graft (also known as endovascular repair, or EVAR), a newer less invasive procedure, or with open surgical repair. Each treatment has its risks and benefits. We offer both options and can help you decide which is best for your situation.
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Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)
This is a condition where the arteries carrying blood from the heart to the legs become blocked with a sticky substance called plaque. Plaque is made up of cholesterol, calcium and fibrous tissue. As plaque builds up, leg arteries become narrowed and stiff. Decreased blood flow to the legs can cause leg pain when walking, painful sores and even tissue death (gangrene). Patients with mild symptoms benefit from lifestyle changes, exercise and medication. Angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure done under local anesthesia whereby a balloon-tipped catheter is threaded through a blocked artery in order to expand it. A stent may be inserted to keep the artery from blocking again. Patients with extensive blockages may need leg bypass surgery. Patients with PAD often require long-term regular monitoring to optimize outcomes.
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Carotid Artery Disease
Plaque build-up in the carotid arteries, the main arteries to the brain, can cause stroke. Patients with transient stroke symptoms and severe blockages in the carotid arteries often require carotid endarterectomy, a procedure that removes the plaque in the carotid artery. Carotid stenting is another treatment option.
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