Vascular Surgery: What You Need to Know
The circulatory system, also called the vascular or cardiovascular system, is the complex system that circulates blood and nutrients throughout the body. Every part of this system works together, and it plays a significant role in your heart health.
When there are problems with any element of the vascular system, it can impact the heart. That’s why vascular surgery is one of the many specialties offered by Oklahoma Heart Hospital.
Vascular specialists treat a variety of vascular disorders and will often recommend non-surgical interventions first. In many cases, medication, exercise, and other lifestyle changes can resolve issues before surgery is needed. However, as with many other health issues, sometimes surgery is a necessary treatment.
What is vascular surgery?
Vascular surgery encompasses surgery on arteries and veins that carry blood through the body. This specialty includes treatments for a wide range of conditions, including venous ulcers, varicose veins, chronic venous insufficiency, aneurysms, blood clots, and more. Procedures to place stents in the blood vessels fall under vascular surgery as well.
Endovascular surgery is a sub-specialty that focuses on making repairs inside of a blood vessel. The surgeon works through a very narrow incision or needle puncture to repair issues, and these surgeries tend to have a lower recovery time.
Risks and recovery
There are some risks to vascular surgery, including stroke and internal bleeding. As with any surgical procedure, there is also some risk of infection. But the risks are usually outweighed by the benefits, and your surgeon has taken the risks and benefits into account before recommending surgery.
New surgical approaches use smaller incisions and sometimes simply a needle to perform the procedure, which means faster recovery overall. Some more complex procedures may still require more invasive techniques, but Oklahoma Heart Hospital uses minimally invasive approaches wherever possible.
If you need vascular care, call Oklahoma Heart Hospital to schedule an appointment with a vascular specialist today. We can help diagnose and treat a wide range of cardiovascular concerns.