Vascular surgery

Carotid artery stenting is a procedure used to treat carotid artery disease. It involves implanting a small, expandable wire cylinder known as a stent in the narrowed section of artery. The aim is to support arterial walls and prevent any blockages.

Carotid stenting is a minimally invasive procedure. It is sometimes recommended for patients for whom carotid endarterectomy is considered too risky. 

Diagnostic angiogram is an imaging procedure that uses a special dye and X-rays to examine a person's arteries and/or veins. It’s often used to diagnose and assess peripheral vascular disease, arterial aneurysms, and venous disorders like extensive deep vein thrombosis. 

Dialysis is an essential therapy for people who have kidney failure. It removes impurities and excess fluid from their bloodstream, the same as a healthy kidney would. There are two types of dialysis – peritoneal dialysis, which is administered via a catheter in the abdomen; and haemodialysis, which is administered via a catheter in the arm. 

Dialysis access is a procedure in which a surgeon creates an entry point for the catheter. There are various methods for doing this, depending on the patient's circumstances and needs, and all are considered relatively simple, minor surgeries.

Embolisation is a minimally invasive procedure used to prevent blood from flowing to a particular part of the body. This is often done to control or prevent bleeding, block an aneurysm, or shrink a tumour. It is performed by injecting medication and/or synthetic materials directly into the affected blood vessel.

Endoluminal repair is a procedure designed to treat an abdominal aortic aneurysm. 

The abdominal aorta is the large artery that carries blood from the heart to the torso and legs. An aneurysm is a widening of this artery. Endoluminal repair invovles placing a graft within the aneurysm to exclude it from the normal circulation of blood. The aim is to take pressure off the aneurysm and prevent it from rupturing. 

Endovascular aneurysm repair (also known as EVAR) is a procedure used to repair an aneurysm in the abdominal or thoracic aorta. It's performed using a catheter inserted in the femoral artery. It is usually less invasive than surgical repair. 

The mesenteric vessels supply blood to the stomach, liver and intestines. Most people have three of them.  

Severe narrowing of these blood vessels is known as mesenteric vascular disease. It can cause symptoms like abdominal pain, weight loss, fear of food, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.  

Mesenteric vascular disease can sometimes be treated with angioplasty and stenting. Angioplasty uses small balloons to open up the narrowed part of an artery, while stenting uses a fine mesh cylinder to support the artery walls and keep them permanently open. 

In other cases, surgery is needed to remove plaque from the blood vessel, or to create a bypass so blood can flow around the narrowed section.

Peripheral arterial angioplasty and stenting are two procedures used to treat peripheral vascular disease.  

In a peripheral arterial angioplasty, X-rays and contrast dyes are used to examine and assess an affected artery. If required, the surgeon might also implant a stent during the same procedure. The stent is a fine mesh cylinder designed to permanetly support the walls of the artery, holding them open and preventing any blockages.

Thrombolysis is a form of emergency therapy that aims to break down blood clots. This is done using medication, which is administered through an intravenous line or a long catheter.

Vascular angioplasty is used to treat severe leg cramps caused by walking and other types of movement-related pain. 

The procedure usually begins with an examination of the affected artery or vein using X-rays and contrast dye. Angioplasty balloons may be used to open up any narrowed sections of the blood vessel. The surgeon might also implant a fine mesh cylinder known as a stent to permanently support the aterial walls. 

Varicose veins can often be managed at home by doing things like wearing compression stockings or elevating the legs. However, if a person has particularly large or twisted veins, their doctor might recommend surgery. 

Traditional varicose vein surgery is usually performed in an operating theatre, under general anesthesia. In some cases, varicose veins may also be treated with endovenous laser therapy. Laser therapy is less invasive than traditional surgery, which can mean fewer scars and a faster recovery time. 

Visceral artery aneurysm coiling is a procedure used to treat an aneurysm in an abdominal organ (for example, the liver or spleen). An aneurysm is when part of an artery wall weakens and balloons out. Left untreated, an aneurysm can burst, causing injury or even death. 

Visceral artery aneurysm coiling is performed by filling the ballooned section of an artery with coils. The aim is to prevent blood from entering the bulge, which can take the pressure off it. This is designed to prevent any further weakening of the arterial wall and make it less likely to rupture.