What is Vascular Surgery?
Vascular surgery is the branch of surgery that involves the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the vessels that carry blood away from (arteries) and back to (veins) your heart.
Vascular disorders include blockages and narrowings of the vessels, abnormal swellings of the vessels (aneurysm) or vessel malfunctions.
The disease processes involved in vascular disorders often involve other body systems and your treatment may therefore require the combined efforts of other medical specialists such as radiologists and general physicians.
Public Service
Capital & Coast DHB Vascular Surgery Service
Description
Referral Expectations
When you come to your appointment, your surgeon will ask questions about your illness and examine you to try to determine or confirm the diagnosis. This process may also require a number of tests (e.g. blood tests, x-rays, scans etc). Sometimes this can all be done during one visit, but for some conditions this will take several follow-up appointments. Occasionally some tests are arranged even before your appointment to try to speed up the process.
Once a diagnosis has been made, your surgeon will discuss treatment with you. In some instances this will mean surgery, while other cases can be managed with medication and advice. If surgery is advised, the steps involved in the surgical process and the likely outcome are usually discussed with you at this time.
Common Conditions
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Aortic Aneurysm
This is the dilatation or ballooning of a section of the aorta which is the main artery coming out of the heart.… More
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Carotid Artery Disease
You have two carotid arteries, one on either side of your neck, that supply blood to your brain.… More
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Peripheral Arterial Disease
Peripheral arterial disease refers to the narrowing of arteries outside the heart and brain, usually as the result of atherosclerosis or "hardening of the arteries" (a build up of fatty deposits on the inner wall of arteries).… More
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Varicose Veins
These are bulging veins that lie just beneath the skin (superficial veins).… More
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Hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating that may occur over the entire body or only in certain parts, most commonly the face, underarms, palms of the hands and soles of the feet.… More
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Ulcers
Vascular ulcers are open wounds on the skin that do not heal or that keep coming back once they do heal.… More
Recent Pages
- Capital & Coast DHB Vascular Surgery Service
Wellington Hospital - Nga Puna Waiora