Angiosurgeon (vascular surgeon)

An angiosurgeon or a vascular surgeon is a doctor who diagnoses and treats diseases of the vascular system.

[1], [2], [3]

Who is angiohirur?

Who is an angiosurgeon? This question can be asked by those patients who are sent for consultation to a specialist about progressive pathological processes in the lower extremities, cardiopathology, diabetic angiopathy, impaired potency, kidney failure and many other problems. Specialization was called the detachment of Greek words - ἀγγεῖον, which means the vessels and χειρουργική - action by hands.

Angiosurgery as a separate direction appeared relatively recently, in the middle of the last century, together with pulmonology and proctology, however, as science developed over several centuries. An invaluable contribution to vascular surgery was made by such famous doctors as Pirogov, Yasinovsky, Sabaneyev. Multivariate differentiation of surgery as a medical field is associated with the desire of physicians to organ-saving medicine, to one that is capable not only of ectomizing (removing), but, if possible, saving, restoring damaged organs and systems.

Angiosurgeon is a vascular surgeon, phlebologist, doctor who, besides receiving a basic medical education, completed an internship, received a specialization in surgery, and also chose a specific direction for his activities in the field of diagnostics, treatment and prevention of pathologies of the vascular system - arteries, veins, as well as all diseases that have a vascular etiology.

When should I go to an angio-surgeon?

The ideal treatment for a vascular surgeon is an annual preventive examination and diagnosis, but not all understand the importance of such a medical examination. The list of symptoms that helps determine when to refer to an angiosurgeon, summarizes the multivariate manifestations of vascular pathologies: 

• Swelling of the feet, hands.
• Periodic or chronic seizures, including at night.
• Tingling sensation, numbness of limbs.
• Burning sensation in feet or legs.
• Redness of limbs (feet, fingers).
• Seals in the lower limbs.
• Headache, which has no objective cause (acute respiratory disease, influenza).
• Atypical shade of the skin of the lower limbs (blackening of the fingers).
• Chronic, not tightening wounds, ulcers.
• Dizziness, ataxia - a violation of coordination.
• Sudden fainting, loss of consciousness.
• Ophthalmic manifestations are "flies" before the eyes.
• Noise in ears.
• Sensation of loss of sensitivity of fingers, toes.

What tests should I take when I go to an angio-surgeon?

To determine the properties of blood flow and the state of the vascular system, clinical and ultrasound, contrast studies are needed. What tests should I take when I go to a surgeon to find out the biochemical composition of the blood and the functionality of the blood flow? 

1. UAC is a general clinical blood test that allows to specify the condition of the vessel walls, to determine the level of hemoglobin, leukocytes, erythrocytes, volume and index of platelets, ESR.
2. Biochemical blood test, which shows the functional parameters of the state of internal systems and organs. The analysis is needed to determine homocysteine, creatine kinase MB, two fractions of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), decay products of fibrin (D-dimer), potassium, chlorides, sodium, C-reactive protein, adrenaline and norepinephrine.

An important marker in biochemical analysis is the indicators relating to cholesterol:

• the level of total cholesterol.
• a high density lipoprotein index - HDL.
• the index of low density lipoproteins - LDL.
• the index of triglycerides - fats.
• the coefficient of atherogenicity is an indicator of the risk of atherosclerosis (ratio of HDL to total cholesterol).

3. Hemostasiogram, coagulogram, helping to determine prothrombin index, time, fibrinogen level
4. General urine analysis.
5. According to the indications - the detection of antibodies (antigens) in the blood serum - serological examination.
6. Find out what tests you need to take when you contact an angiosurgeon, you can at an initial consultation with a doctor.

What diagnostic methods does angiosurgeon use?

The diagnostic complex can include research by such methods and methods: 

• MRI angiography is a method that helps to obtain a two-dimensional picture of blood vessels.
• Dopplerography of vessels is a method capable of assessing the functions of blood flow (velocity), the condition of the walls of blood vessels and the presence of atherosclerotic deposits (plaques).
• Angiography with X-ray.
• Endoscopy.
• PET - positron emission, radionuclide study (tomography).
• Electrocardiogram (in dynamics - daily study).
• Echocardiogram.
• Monitoring of blood pressure.
• Sonography (echography) of the main vessels of the head.
• Ultrasound of internal organs, with mandatory examination of organs responsible for the production of hormones (kidney, thyroid, adrenal glands).
• Sonography (echography) of the vessels of the lower extremities.
• Advising narrow specialists.
• Anthropometry - calculation of the ratio of body mass index and other indicators.

What methods the angiosurgeon uses depends on how far the disease has gone, on the patient's condition and the capacity of the medical institution in terms of equipping with the necessary equipment.

What does an angiosurgeon do?

Angiologists (angiosurgeons, vascular surgeons) are engaged in all kinds of diseases that are somehow associated with pathological processes in large main vessels (veins, arteries), as well as in the lymphatic system. On the question - what the angiosurgeon is engaged in can answer the following list, which included only general directions of the multi-species activity of the vascular surgeon: 

• Diagnosis of diseases of the vascular system and pathologies associated with the main vessels.
• Treatment of injuries of the vascular system of a traumatic nature, caused by mechanical, household factors.
• The competence of angio-surgeons includes some types of oncological diseases, in case the tumor is localized near the artery, the veins grow into large main vessels.
• Prosthesis of injuries injured or during the operation of vessels.
• Removal of congenital pathological vascular formations - hemangiomas, AVM - arteriovenous malformations.
• Replantology is microsurgery, with the help of which it is possible to "sew" (re-implant) amputated limbs (hands, fragments of limbs) as a result of trauma.
• Use in practice of all possible and recognized by the world medical community diagnostic techniques, conservative therapy, surgery, prevention of diseases of the vascular system.

What diseases are treated by an angiosurgeon?

Leading the list of diseases related to the competence of an angiosurgeon, atherosclerosis, which in recent decades has become a real disaster for many developed countries in the world. It is no accident that atherosclerotic pathologies are considered a real epidemic, although the disease does not have a viral pathology. According to statistics, atherosclerosis can be diagnosed in almost 80% of people who have reached the age of 60, of course, provided that they seek help from a vascular surgeon. The deposition of cholesterol organic compounds in the arteries leads to severe consequences, such as: 

• Stroke.
• A heart attack.
• Aneurysm of the aorta.
• Atherosclerosis of the renal vessels (thrombosis of the artery).
• IHD is ischemic heart disease.
• Atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels.
• Obliterating atherosclerosis of the lower extremities.

In addition, the following pathologies are included in the list, which indicates which diseases the angiosurgeon treats: 

• Reticular ("cosmetic") varices.
• Varicose veins.
• Vascular "meshes" - telangiectasia.
• Thrombophlebitis - thrombophlebitis.
• Buerger's disease is an obliterating thromboangiitis.
• Lymphostasis.
• Obliterating endarteritis.
• Diabetic angiopathies.
• Takayasu's syndrome is aortoarteriitis.
• Congenital or trauma-induced arteriovenous fistula.
• Varikotsele.
• Reynaud's syndrome.
• DE - dyscirculatory encephalopathy.
• Gas embolism.
• Stenosis of carotid arteries.
• Lipedema, lymphedema.
• Embolism of the pulmonary artery.
• The beak-pectoral syndrome, Wright's syndrome.
• SM - Marfan syndrome.
• Obstruction of the hepatic veins - Badd-Chiari syndrome.
• SAK is a subarachnoid hemorrhage.
• Trophic ulcers.
• Systemic capillaritis - Goodpasture syndrome.
• TMS - transposition of the main vessels.

Advice of an angiosurgeon physician

In order that neither atherosclerosis, nor other diseases associated with blood vessels, lead a person to a doctor, or even more so on the operating table, it is necessary to follow the recommendations and advice of an angio-surgeon physician:

• Follow the rules of a healthy active lifestyle.
• Abandon bad habits, especially from smoking, which is the direct route to atherosclerosis.
• Observe the rules of reasonable motor activity. Hypodinamy is a factor that provokes diseases of the vascular system.
• Observe the rules of healthy eating (restrict foods rich in cholesterol, fats) and make sure that the body weight corresponds to the norm.
• It is necessary to monitor - regularly measure blood pressure, if necessary, take recommended drugs that regulate blood pressure.
• It is necessary to periodically measure the level of sugar in the blood to prevent the development of diabetes.
• Regularly undergo regular check-ups and examinations, including a vascular surgeon to control the level of cholesterol.

[4], [5], [6]