Your heart works continuously throughout your life to pump blood through your whole body. You have blood vessels that are continually carrying blood to all of your cells and organs: Arteries carry oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to the cells, and veins carry depleted blood back to the heart and lungs for refortification.
The fact that your cardiovascular (cardio = heart, vascular = vessels) system is constantly functioning, plus the fact that certain lifestyle habits can put excess pressure on the system, may mean that you require surgical treatment for a cardiovascular problem at some point in your life.
Let’s talk about some of the main types of vascular surgery and where you can go for an evaluation and treatment.
Types of Vascular Surgery
Some of the most commonly performed vascular surgeries are the following:
Angioplasty
This is a procedure that opens up a blocked artery to allow blood to travel through it once again. During an angioplasty, a cardiologist uses a catheter – a very thin tube – with a tiny balloon on the end of it.
In this procedure, your surgeon carefully threads the catheter through the affected artery. Once it reaches the blocked area, the physician will inflate the balloon to open up the artery.
Your cardiologist or vascular surgeon may use this treatment on arteries that are located in various places throughout your body, including your carotid arteries – which are the two main vessels in your neck.
Stenting
A stent is a tiny tube that keeps an otherwise-blocked artery open and clear. Your surgeon may place a stent in an artery to keep it open, so that the blood flows uninterruptedly through that area. A cardiologist can perform stenting on various arteries throughout your body.
Aneurysm Repair
An aneurysm occurs when a bulge forms in an artery, usually due to a weak spot in it. A cardiologist or a vascular surgeon will refer you to a neurosurgeon if it is discovered that you have an aneurysm in your brain.
The most common location of an aneurysm is in the aorta – the largest artery in your body. It’s responsible for carrying blood away from your heart and to the other arteries and vessels for distribution of fresh blood to your cells.
For an aneurysm repair, your surgeon may place a stent graft in the artery in order to provide extra reinforcement and to help reduce the chances of the aneurysm rupturing. If you have a small aneurysm, your surgeon may recommend the watch-and-wait method, monitoring the aneurysm and intervening only if or when necessary.
Arterial Bypass
Your cardiologist may recommend bypass surgery if you have a severe blockage in an artery. For an arterial bypass, your doctor will insert a graft, which will consist of either a blood vessel from another area of your body or a medical-grade plastic tube. The graft will reroute blood flow, so it avoids – or bypasses – the blocked artery.
Skilled Cardiologist in Sarasota, FL
Our cardiologists and vascular surgeons here at Intercoastal Medical Group genuinely care about our patients, and we offer a variety of diagnostics and procedures. We are always keeping up-to-date with advancements in the field of cardiology and vascular medicine.
Our medical team serves the entire region of Sarasota, Bradenton, and Manatee County. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, call our location near you today or fill out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to seeing you!
