What Can a Vascular Surgeon Do for Poor Circulation?

Poor circulation can be a severe problem, leading to various health issues. Fortunately, help is available in the form of a vascular surgeon. Such a specialist may help improve your circulation and protect your health. For assistance, consult and listen as a professional at the Center for Vascular Medicine talks about Poor Blood Circulation.

Generally, vascular surgery is a medical specialty dealing with disorders or injuries relating to the veins, arteries, and lymphatic vessels. Vascular surgeons often treat conditions such as blood clots, aneurysms, and peripheral artery disease. Surgical procedures can also improve blood flow.

Vascular surgery can be performed using traditional open surgical techniques or minimally invasive procedures (endovascular surgery), depending on the condition. Here’s a low-down on the various ways a vascular surgeon can assist you:

Before Treatment

Treatment doesn’t always have to involve surgery. Before your surgeon operates, they will assess whether you require surgery or other treatments that may be more effective. As such, you may need a physical exam or a battery of tests such as:

• Ultrasound
• X-ray
• MRI
• Echocardiogram

Your surgeon also examines your health history while evaluating your condition to determine the best course of action. And essentially, a medical specialist can perform endovascular surgery to treat various conditions affecting your blood vessels, including poor circulation. Let’s detail some of the common treatments a surgeon may consider.  

1. Angioplasty

During an angioplasty procedure, the surgeon or vascular specialist inflates a small balloon-tipped catheter inside the artery or blockage site to widen the vessel and improve blood flow. Endovascular surgery can also help treat aneurysms-  weak spots in the blood vessel wall that can burst and cause bleeding.

Angioplasty is typically performed as a day-case procedure, so you won’t need to stay in the hospital overnight. Generally, specialists conduct the operation under local anesthesia, where you’re awake but don’t feel any pain. 

A surgeon may also carry out the procedure under general anesthesia, where you’re asleep (unconscious) during the procedure. Angioplasty can help treat conditions that cause narrowing or blockages of blood vessels, such as peripheral arterial disease and renal artery stenosis.  

2. Therapy (Clot Busting)

This treatment involves using medication to break down clots blocking blood flow. Thrombolytic therapy aims to improve blood flow and oxygen delivery to tissues. Doing so may also decrease the risk of serious complications like heart attack and stroke.

Specialists may also use the procedure to treat various conditions, including heart attack and pulmonary embolism. It is typically administered through an IV in a hospital setting. 

Doctors decide to use thrombolytic therapy on a case-by-case basis, as it carries a risk of bleeding. But generally, the potential benefits (of quickly dissolving the clot and restoring blood flow) far outweigh the risk involved. 

3. Stent Grafting

Stent grafting facilitates the treatment of aortic aneurysms- a ballooning of the aorta, the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. A stent graft is a tube-like device placed inside the aorta to reinforce the wall of the vessel and prevent it from rupturing.

The stent-graft is usually made from metal or fabric and is supported by a metal mesh. Stent grafting is a safer alternative to open surgery, which carries a greater risk of complications. Plus, your surgeon can perform the procedure using local anesthesia, allowing you to go home the same day. Plus, recovery time is typically shorter than open surgery, and patients experience less scarring.

But, stent grafting is not appropriate for all patients. Your doctor will determine if you are a good candidate for this procedure. And although endovascular surgery carries some risks, it is often a preferred treatment option as it’s less invasive than traditional open surgery.

4. Vascular Surgery

Surgery may be required if other treatments aren’t effective or your condition is more serious. It involves making an incision in your skin to access blood vessels. 

Open surgery may sometimes be necessary to treat poor blood circulation. This can occur when the arteries become narrowed or blocked, preventing blood from flowing freely to organs and tissues. Open surgery can often restore normal blood flow by bypassing the obstruction or removing it altogether. In other cases, open surgery may be needed to remove a blockage in a vein or artery causing poor circulation.

While any surgery involves some level of risk, the benefits often outweigh the risks in cases of serious circulation problems. That means you don’t have to let poor circulation stand in your way. Talk with your physician to determine the ideal treatment plan for your condition.