Medical conditions

Vascular surgeons cover and advise on the management of conditions of all the arteries and veins except those in the heart and the head. They also cover a few other conditions where they historically had more experience in the surgical exposure of that region.

Listed below are categories with subheadings of the relevant conditions managed by the South Coast Vascular Unit.

Arteries

Occlusive Disease (blocked arteries)
Claudication (cramping pain in the muscles when walking)
Rest pain (pain in the toes/ foot – mostly at night)
Non-healing wounds / gangrene
Mesenteric angina (blocked arteries in the bowel giving pain and weight loss)
Carotid artery (strokes or mini-strokes involving the brain or the eye)

Aneurysmal Disease (enlarged arteries)

Thoracic aorta (chest)
Abdominal aorta (tummy)
Popliteal aneurysm (behind the knee)
Other peripheral aneurysms e.g. femoral, subclavian, carotid
Visceral aneurysms (involve the smaller arteries to the organs in the abdomen) e.g. Spleen, kidney, liver and bowel

Damaged Arteries

Blunt injury (often associated with broken bones or dislocated joints)
Penetrating injury (glass, knives and gunshots)
Needle injuries (blockage, leaking, infection)

Inflamed Arteries

Large Arteries (Giant cell arteritis, Takayasu’s disease)
Medium arteries (Buerger’s disease)
Small Arteries (Rheumatoid vasculitis)

Compressed Arteries

Popliteal entrapment (cramping pain in the calf when exercising)
Thoracic outlet syndrome (damaged internal lining in the artery going through the shoulder region)

Veins

Venous hypertension (high pressure)
Varicose veins
Phlebitis (tender, inflamed veins) and bleeding
Varicose ulcers and eczema

Complicated DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis)

Phlegmasia caerulia dolens (venous gangrene)
Caval obstruction (severe swelling of legs/ arms and face)
Post phlebitic syndrome (severe unremitting venous hypertension)
Paget Schroedder syndrome (blocked vein in the arm casing swelling and discomfort).

Lymphatics (small vessels that ‘mop up’ excess fluid from the tissues)

Lymphoedema (persistent swelling of the ankle/ arm)
Lymphatic leaks/ cysts (fluid leaking out of the lymph vessels)

Hyperhidrosis (uncontrollable excess sweating)

 

Problems related to Cervical or First rib compression

Occasionally the function of the nerves, artery or vein to the arm can be affected by one of the ribs compressing/ irritating it with the arm in certain positions. Removing the offending rib may sometimes be helpful in relieving this condition.