Vascular surgery is an operation that closes a leaky heart valve or stops a blood vessel from narrowing. If you have heart or blood vessel disease symptoms, your doctor may recommend vascular surgery. The type of vascular surgery your doctor recommends will depend on the severity of your condition and your personal preference. Your Tinley Park, IL general surgeon can perform various kinds of vascular surgery.

Sometimes, there are no symptoms, and you don’t know something is wrong until your doctor discovers a problem with one of your blood vessels. In other cases, the problem is more pronounced, such as when someone has high blood pressure, and you can see their pulse beat through the skin on their wrist. There are many reasons why your doctor might recommend vascular surgery. Some of the most common reasons include:

A problem with your heart

The primary work of the heart is to pump blood throughout the body. If there is any problem with how it works, you may develop symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath. These symptoms could be caused by problems with the heart valves, coronary arteries, or other parts of the heart itself. A vascular surgeon can perform bypass surgery and other procedures to help correct these problems. In some cases, you may be able to avoid surgery if a cardiologist provides medication treatment for at least six months before the surgery takes place.

A blockage in one of the arteries or veins of your body

A blockage in one of the arteries or veins of your body can lead to a severe drop in blood pressure, leading to heart failure or other serious problems. If an artery or vein is blocked, it can be surgically repaired using either an open-heart procedure or a minimally invasive procedure.

A tear in one or more of the valves

A tear in one or more valves can cause blood to leak into other parts of your body and cause pain. A tear in both sides of a valve is known as bicuspid valve disease and results in mitral valve prolapse (MVP). MVP may occur when two leaflets on either side of the valve are damaged due to their inability to function correctly, as they should be able to do when they are fully opened up.

A malformation, tumor, or growth in your vascular system

Malformations and tumors can grow into your arteries and veins, causing them to become blocked with plaque buildup. The condition is known as atherosclerosis. Vascular operations are often done to remove these growths, restore blood flow and prevent further blockages from forming.

Ruptured arteries

A ruptured artery can lead to loss of blood flow through an artery, which can cause severe damage to vital organs and tissues throughout your body, such as your heart, brain, kidneys, and liver. In some cases, this is called a “stroke.” A broken artery caused by a stroke is called an “embolic stroke.” In these situations, you will need emergency treatment right away because if left untreated, you risk

Hemorrhage

Your blood vessels can bleed due to injury or an underlying condition such as cancer or infection. That can cause excessive bleeding and damage vital organs such as the brain and heart. It is essential to seek medical attention if you experience symptoms like nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and shortness of breath that persist for more than a few days to prevent any permanent damage from blood loss (pulmonary embolism).

Vascular disease is not something you should take lightly, as it is among the leading causes of death. Fortunately, almost all types of vascular disease have a treatment. You may have symptoms of a vascular problem, such as leg pain or a swollen ankle. In that case, you can contact Vascular Specialists to learn more about vascular diseases, vascular surgeries available, and suitable treatment options for your condition.