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Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair (Abdominal Aneurysm - Open Repair, AAA Repair, Triple A Repair, Abdominal Aneurysmectomy, Endovascular Aneurysm Repair, EVAR) Procedure Overview What is an abdominal aortic aneurysm repair? Click Image to Enlarge Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair is a procedure used to treat an aneurysm (abnormal enlargement) of the abdominal aorta. Repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm may be performed surgically through an open incision or in a minimally-invasive procedure called...

Amputation Procedure (Surgical Removal of an Extremity/Limb) Procedure Overview What is amputation? Amputation is a surgical procedure that involves removal of an extremity/limb (leg or arm) or a part of a limb (such as a toe, finger, foot, or hand), usually as a result of injury, disease, infection, or surgery (to remove tumors from bones and muscles). About 1.8 million individuals in the US are living with an amputation. Amputation of the leg (above and below-knee) is the most common type of amputatio...

Carotid Endarterectomy / Carotid Angioplasty with Stenting (Endarterectomy-Carotid, CEA, Carotid Artery Angioplasty with Stenting, CAS, Carotid Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty, CPTA/Stenting, Carotid Artery Stenting) Procedure Overview What are carotid endarterectomy and carotid angioplasty with stenting? Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery angioplasty with stenting (CAS) are procedures performed to treat carotid artery disease in certain circumstances. Carotid artery disease, also cal...

Femoral Popliteal Bypass Surgery (Femoropopliteal Bypass-Open, PTA, Balloon Angioplasty) Procedure Overview What are femoral popliteal bypass surgery and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the femoral arteries? Femoral popliteal (also called femoropopliteal) bypass surgery is a surgical procedure that may be used to treat severe blockage due to plaque in the femoral artery. A newer, minimally-invasive procedure is percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of the femoral arteries. The femoral and...

Vascular Studies (Carotid, Arm, and Leg Arterial and Venous Studies, Carotid Ultrasound, Venous Doppler Studies, Arterial Doppler Studies, Pulse Volume Recordings, PVRS) Procedure Overview What are vascular studies? Vascular studies are a noninvasive (the skin is not pierced) procedure used to assess the blood flow in arteries and veins. A transducer (like a microphone) sends out ultrasonic sound waves at a frequency too high to be heard. When the transducer is placed on the skin at certain locations an...

Venogram (Venography, Phlebography, Lower Limb Venography) Procedure Overview What is a venogram? A venogram is a procedure that provides x-ray visualization of the veins, particularly in the lower extremities (legs). A special dye is injected that is visible upon x-ray. The contrast dye allows the physician to evaluate the size and condition of the veins. A venogram is one of the more accurate tests used for diagnosing deep vein thrombosis (DVT), but can also be used to diagnose other abnormalities. Cl...

Abdominal Angiogram (Angiogram-Abdominal, Arteriogram-Abdominal, Celiac and Mesenteric Arteriography, Abdominal Arteriography, Abdominal Angiography) Procedure Overview What is an abdominal angiogram? An angiogram, also called an arteriogram, is an x-ray image of the blood vessels. It is performed to evaluate various vascular conditions, such as an aneurysm (ballooning of a blood vessel), stenosis (narrowing of a blood vessel), or blockages. An abdominal angiogram is an angiogram of the blood vessels of...

Carotid Artery Duplex Scan (Carotid Ultrasound, Vascular Ultrasound Study, Carotid Artery Doppler Sonography) Procedure Overview A carotid artery duplex scan is a type of vascular ultrasound study done to assess the blood flow of the arteries that supply blood from the heart through the neck to the brain. There are six carotid arteries - the right and left common carotid arteries, which divide and form the right and left internal carotid arteries and the right and left external carotid arteries. One pai...

Oculoplethysmography (OPG) (Carotid Patency Evaluation, Ocular Pressures) Procedure Overview What is oculoplethysmography? Click Image to Enlarge Oculoplethysmography (OPG) is used to detect the presence of a blockage in the carotid arteries. These arteries, located on each side of the neck, deliver oxygenated blood from the heart to the brain. If the carotid arteries are blocked or narrowed due to fatty deposits, the brain can become deprived of oxygen and stroke (damage to the brain tissue due to lack...

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm What is an abdominal aortic aneurysm? Click Image to Enlarge An abdominal aortic aneurysm, also called AAA or triple A, is a bulging, weakened area in the wall of the aorta (the largest artery in the body) resulting in an abnormal widening or ballooning greater than 50 percent of the normal diameter (width). The aorta extends upward from the top of the left ventricle of the heart in the chest area (ascending thoracic aorta), then curves like a candy cane (aortic arch) downward ...

Carotid Artery Disease Click Image to Enlarge What is carotid artery disease? Carotid artery disease, also called carotid artery stenosis, occurs when the carotid arteries, the main blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood to the brain, become narrowed. The narrowing of the carotid arteries is most commonly related to atherosclerosis (a build-up of plaque, which is a deposit of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium, and fibrin in the inner lining of an artery). Atherosclerosis...

Cerebral Aneurysm What is a cerebral aneurysm? Click Image to Enlarge A cerebral aneurysm (also called an intracranial aneurysm or brain aneurysm) is a bulging, weakened area in the wall of an artery in the brain, resulting in an abnormal widening or ballooning. Because there is a weakened spot in the artery wall, there is a risk for rupture (bursting) of the aneurysm. A cerebral aneurysm generally occurs in an artery located in the front part of the brain which supplies oxygen-rich blood to the brain t...

Chronic Venous Insufficiency What is chronic venous insufficiency? Click Image to Enlarge Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when the leg veins do not allow blood to travel back to the heart. (Arteries carry blood away from the heart, while veins carry blood to the heart). Problems with valves in the veins can cause the blood to flow both directions, not just toward the heart. These valves that are not working properly can cause blood in the legs to pool. If chronic venous insufficiency is left untreat...

Claudication What is claudication? Claudication refers to limping because of pain in the thigh, calf, and/or buttocks that occurs when walking. Claudication may be a symptom of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). PAD is caused by a narrowing or blockage of arteries in the legs and/or aorta (the largest artery in the body and the primary blood vessel leading from the heart to the body), which may cause decreased blood flow to the muscles of the calf, thigh, or buttocks. This decreased blood flow may cause...

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) / Thrombophlebitis What is deep vein thrombosis? Click Image to Enlarge Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot develops in a vein deep in the body. Deep veins are found within groups of muscles. The veins close to the skin are called superficial veins. While these clots most often develop in the lower legs or thighs, they may appear in the upper body, such as the arms or other locations in the body. Deep vein thrombosis is a risk for any major surgery, but patient...

Medical Management of Vascular Conditions Vascular system overview: The blood vascular system, also called the circulatory system, of the body is made up of arteries, veins, and capillaries (tiny blood vessels between arteries and veins that distribute oxygen-rich blood to the body). The heart is responsible for pumping blood through this network of blood vessels throughout the body. Click Image to Enlarge Another vascular system of the body is the lymph system. The lymph vessels carry lymphatic fluid (...

Overview of the Vascular System What is the vascular system? The vascular system, also called the circulatory system, is made up of the vessels that carry blood and lymph through the body. The arteries and veins carry blood throughout the body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to the body tissues and taking away tissue waste matter. The lymph vessels carry lymphatic fluid (a clear, colorless fluid containing water and blood cells). The lymphatic system helps to protect and maintain the fluid environment ...

Renal Vascular Disease What is renal vascular disease? Renal vascular disease is the name given to a variety of complications that affect the arteries and veins of the kidneys. These complications affect the blood circulation of the kidneys, and may cause damage to the tissues of the kidneys, kidney failure, and/or high blood pressure. Vascular conditions affecting the renal arteries and veins include the following: renal artery stenosis Renal artery stenosis is a blockage of an artery to the kidneys. I...

Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm What is a thoracic aortic aneurysm? Click Image to Enlarge A thoracic aortic aneurysm, also called TAA, is a bulging, weakened area in the wall of the aorta (the largest artery in the body), resulting in an abnormal widening or ballooning greater than 50 percent of the normal diameter (width). The aorta extends upward from the top of the left ventricle of the heart in the chest area (ascending thoracic aorta), then curves like a candy cane (aortic arch) downward through the ches...

Varicose Veins What are varicose veins? Varicose veins are enlarged veins that are visible through the skin and may appear as blue or purple twisted, knot-like cords. Varicose veins can occur anywhere in the body, but are more commonly found on the legs. Hemorrhoids, a type of varicose vein, can appear during pregnancy around the anus or in the vagina. What are spider veins? Spider veins, a milder type of varicose veins, are smaller than varicose veins and often look like a sunburst or "spider web." The...

Vascular Conditions and Diseases There are many vascular conditions that require clinical care by a physician or other health care professional. Listed in the directory below are some of these conditions, for which we have provided a brief overview. Overview of the Vascular System Medical Management of Vascular Conditions Aneurysm Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Cerebral Aneurysm Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Carotid Artery Disease Chronic Venous Insufficiency Claudication Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) / Thrombophleb...

Diagnosis and Treatment for Migraines How are migraine headaches diagnosed? In order to get an accurate diagnosis it is important to be able to describe your migraine symptoms to your physician. It is helpful to track migraine occurrences (dates and times) and the details associated with migraines. Consider writing down the following to take to your medical appointment: What time of day do the headaches occur? What is the specific location of the headaches? What do the headaches feel like? How long do t...

Migraine Headaches What are migraine headaches? This throbbing type of headache is distinguished by the fact that symptoms other than pain occur with the headache. Nausea and vomiting, lightheadedness, sensitivity to light (photophobia), and other visual disturbances are common migraine symptoms. Migraines are also unique in that they have distinct phases. Not all individuals experience each phase, however. The phases of a migraine headache may include: premonition phase - a change in mood or behavior t...

Aneurysm What is an aneurysm? An aneurysm is a bulging, weakened area in the wall of a blood vessel resulting in an abnormal widening or ballooning greater than 50 percent of the normal diameter (width). An aneurysm may occur in any blood vessel, but is most often seen in an artery rather than a vein. Click Image to Enlarge An aneurysm may be located in many areas of the body, such as blood vessels of the brain, the aorta (the largest artery in the body), the intestines, the kidney, the spleen, and the ...

Cardiac Conditions and Diseases There are many cardiac conditions that require clinical care by a physician or other heart care professional. Listed in the directory below are some of these conditions, for which we have provided a brief overview. Angina Pectoris Arrhythmias Pacemakers and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs ) Overview of Pacemaker and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs ) Living With a Pacemaker or Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) Frequently Asked Questio...

Peripheral Vascular Disease What is peripheral vascular disease (PVD)? Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is a slow and progressive circulation disorder. It may involve disease in any of the blood vessels outside of the heart and diseases of the lymph vessels - the arteries, veins, or lymphatic vessels. Organs supplied by these vessels such as the brain, heart, and legs, may not receive adequate blood flow for ordinary function. However, the legs and feet are most commonly affected, thus the name periphe...

Varicose Veins Rarely Pose a Threat It's alarming to see them, twisted and bulging, on your legs or feet, but varicose veins usually aren't dangerous. Varicose veins are dark purple or blue in color. They can look like cords or appear to be twisted and bulging. They are found most often on the backs of the calves or on the inside of the leg, anywhere from the groin to the ankle. Spider veins are similar to varicose veins, but they are smaller, are often red or blue in color, and are closer to the surfac...

Why Leg Pain Can Break Your Heart Every day, you start out walking that one-mile loop. But every day when you walk, your legs start to ache. So you sit down on a bench, and the pain goes away. After a while, you get up and walk home -- but by the time you reach the house, the pain is back. You may think you have leg cramps -- a sign of advancing age. But you may well be suffering from intermittent claudication, a cardiovascular disease. (The word "claudication" comes from the name of the Roman Emperor C...

Legs Aid Heart in Pumping Blood Your heart has the gargantuan task of pushing blood through 60,000 miles of blood vessels. Still, it may come as a surprise to learn that your heart doesn't do the job alone. It gets an important assist from your body's other muscles, especially those in the legs, which play an important role. Your body has two basic types of blood vessels. Arteries are thick-walled vessels that carry oxygenated blood to your muscles and organs under pressure supplied by the heart, a fist...