Vascular surgery is a multidisciplinary speciality involving the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular pathologies from modifying a patients risk factors to providing treatments ranging from minimally invasive procesures (angioplasty and stents) to open conventional surgical operations.
This website offers a wealth of information about vascular conditions and their treatment.Conditions treated by vascular surgeons include: Varicose veins (Endovenous laser therapy or Radiofrequency Ablation), thread veins (sclerotherapy), claudication, critical limb ischaemia, circulation disorders of the upper or lower limbs, aneurysms, carotid disease surgery to prevent stroke, sweaty hands, hyperhidrosis, facial blushing, thoracic outlet syndrome.
Varicose vein treatments are now mostly keyhole involving treatments such as radiofrequency or laser ablation. It is less common for varicose veins to be treated by "stripping" as was the case in the past. We offer a comprehensive service for varicose veins from diagnostics such as specialised vascular ultrasound to treatments such as endovenous ablation.
Thread veins are very common and although they don't often cause symptoms, many people find them visible and embarassing. We offer treatments such as microsclerotherapy and VeinWave therapy. You can read more about thread veins on this website.
Hyperhidrosis is a condition that causes excessive sweating. It is considered to be present if the degree of sweating is out of proportion to the stimulus. We offer treatments sucg as Botox for axillary hyperhidrosis and Endoscopic thoracic Sympathectomy.
An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an abnormal swelling of the major artery from the heart that supplies the body with blood. The condition affects 5% of people over the age of 60 and men are four times more likely to develop one. It is very important that AAA is recognised because in a small percentage of cases the artery swells so much that it can burst which has an 80% risk of death.
The risk of a stroke or TIA increases with age but they do occur in younger people particularly in smokers and diabetic patients. Men are at higher risk of having a stroke but women are a greater risk of dying from one. Carotid disease may lead on to stroke or TIA. This should be diagnosed by specialist vascular ultrasound and treated by an expert. We offer expert treatment of carotid disease by carotid endarterectomy as well as stents.
Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a broad term that refers to compression by bony structures and muscles of the nerves, veins and arteries that leave the chest in order to supply the arm. The condition is thought to affect 0.8% of the population and is seen 3 times more frequently in women.
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) describes narrowing or blockage of the major arteries supplying the legs resulting in a reduced blood supply which causes symptoms such as intermittent claudication (pain on walking relieved by rest). Poor circulation in the legs is a common problem present in over 8% of patients over 70 years of age. It can be found in younger people particularly in smokers and diabetic patients. There are some individuals who have circulation problems in the leg and no obvious risk factors. These individuals probably have a genetic predisposition.