VASCULAR SURGERY

Vascular surgery is a branch in surgery that aims to treat arteries and veins by repairing, bypassing, replacing or removing techniques.  
The vascular surgeon is a specialist that oversees the diagnosis and treatment of all artery and vein related diseases.
If atherosclerosis is the cause of the peripheral vascular disease, all arteries may be affected as plaque builds up in them.
The carotid arteries (the arteries that are responsible for the cerebral vasculitis), the abdominal aorta (the artery from which all vessels carry blood to the abdominal organs) and the arteries of the lower limbs are the ones most frequently affected by the atherosclerotic disorder. This may lead to a narrowing or occlusion of the vessel (stenosis) or dilation (aneurysm).
Venous diseases more frequently affect superficial veins of the lower extremities (varicose veins, superficial phlebitis, superficial thrombophlebitis) or deep veins (deep vein thrombosis, venous insufficiency).

What is a Doppler ultrasound?
It is a non-invasive diagnostic technique that is used to examine the arterial and venous vessels and measure the blood flow.
There are no contraindications. It is a safe, painless and risk-free test that does not use X-rays but ultrasounds. It can also be used on children, the elderly and pregnant women without any risks or problems.
Telangiectasia (“spider veins") is nowadays one of the most common vascular blemishes that affect mainly the legs, but that can also appear in various other areas.
Although they represent an aesthetic problem, it is best to consult a specialist and undergo a Doppler ultrasound to rule out the possibility of a concomitant venous disease and to follow the right treatment.
Laser therapy is a technique that can treat most vascular blemishes. A laser beam is used that is absorbed by the hemoglobin contained in blood vessels: the energy absorbed is transformed into heat which is aimed on the vascular structures thus correcting the defect.
Sclerotherapy is a technique that involves the closure of broken capillary groups that are visible on the skin.  This is performed by directly injecting an “agent” (sclerosing solution) into the vessels themselves that causes a local inflammatory reaction (chemical phlebitis) and eliminates them.