Vascular Surgery - Best Doctors | Virtual Consultation Available

Found 0 Doctors specialized in Vascular Surgery

No Results Found

Visitors who were interested in Vascular Surgery also searched for:

Vascular Surgery by cities

General information about Vascular Surgery

What does a vascular surgeon do?

A vascular surgeon is a medical specialist responsible for the diagnosis, follow-up and treatment of the body's arterial, venous and lymphatic systems – except for the blood vessels of the heart itself and those inside the brain. Their areas of responsibility include the blood vessels of the upper and lower limbs, the carotid arteries that supply blood to the brain, the abdominal and thoracic aorta, and the venous system that returns blood to the heart.

The clinical field is far broader and more varied than is commonly thought, and includes:

Arterial diseases: narrowing and blockages of the leg arteries (peripheral artery disease), narrowing of the carotid arteries, which is a risk factor for stroke, and aneurysms (a dangerous bulging of the artery wall that may rupture).
Venous and lymphatic diseases: deep vein thrombosis (blood clots), venous insufficiency and varicose veins in the legs, as well as lymphedema.
Complications of diabetes and kidney failure: treatment of ulcers and hard-to-heal wounds in the diabetic foot in order to save the limb, and creation of vascular access (such as a fistula) for patients who need dialysis.

Despite the word "surgeon" in the specialty's name, operations are only a small part of the specialist's daily work. A central pillar of care is diagnostic workup, periodic follow-up, medication management and guidance on lifestyle changes, with invasive intervention reserved only for situations where it is medically justified.

Training and specialization of vascular surgeons in Israel

In Israel, vascular surgery is a separate medical specialty, with a residency lasting about six years after completing medical school. The intensive training track includes work in a vascular surgery department and a general surgery department, alongside dedicated rotations in cardiothoracic surgery departments, an intensive care unit and imaging institutes.

During the residency years, the doctor gains hands-on skills in interpreting and performing vascular laboratory tests (such as duplex ultrasound of arteries and veins). What makes the vascular surgeon unique is full mastery of both traditional open surgery and minimally invasive catheter-based procedures (endovascular procedures). Receiving the specialist title from the Ministry of Health is conditional on successfully passing the national exams of the Scientific Council and performing a required number of operations.

When should you see a vascular surgeon?

Referral to the specialist is usually made on the recommendation of the family doctor, when symptoms or findings appear such as:

Leg pain when walking (intermittent claudication): pain, cramping or a feeling of fatigue in the calf, thigh or buttock muscles that appears with consistent exertion and goes away after a short rest.
Wounds that don't heal: an ulcer or wound on the foot or lower leg that doesn't heal, especially among people with diabetes or smokers.
Varicose veins and venous symptoms: bulging veins accompanied by pain, a feeling of heaviness, swelling or itching, as well as changes in skin color on the lower leg, venous eczema, or a vein that has become hard, red and painful to the touch.
Incidental finding on an imaging test: discovery of an aortic aneurysm or carotid artery narrowing during an ultrasound or CT scan performed for another reason.

Frequently asked questions about Vascular Surgery

How are diagnosis and treatment carried out?

The medical visit begins with a physical examination that includes checking the pulses in the limbs. When narrowing of the leg arteries is suspected, an ABI test (ankle-brachial index) is usually performed, which simply and non-invasively compares the blood pressure at the ankle with the blood pressure in the arm. This test is usually accompanied by a duplex ultrasound, which shows blood flow in real time and locates the narrowing in the artery or the leak in the vein valves.

Once the workup is complete, the patient is offered one of three main treatment approaches (and sometimes a combination of them):

Conservative and medication treatment: complete smoking cessation, a supervised walking program to encourage the opening of natural bypass vessels, and medications to control blood pressure and cholesterol and to prevent blood clots. For many patients with leg pain when walking, this is the first and most effective line of treatment.
Catheter-based treatment: a minimally invasive approach in which a thin catheter is inserted into the blood vessel through a small puncture in the skin. It can be used to widen a narrowed artery with a balloon, to implant a stent, or alternatively to seal a faulty vein from the inside using heat energy (laser or radiofrequency), biological glue or foam injection.
Open surgery: surgical procedures such as bypass surgery for a blocked leg artery, removal of atherosclerotic plaque from the carotid artery (endarterectomy) or open repair of an aneurysm.

The choice between treatment options depends on the location and anatomical extent of the problem, the patient's age and their general health. It is advisable to ask your doctor which options suit your case and what the advantages and risks of each approach are.

What's the difference between a vascular surgeon and a cardiologist?

The main difference between the two specialists lies in the anatomical area they focus on: while a cardiologist diagnoses and treats the heart itself and the coronary arteries that supply it, a vascular surgeon is responsible for the arteries and veins in the rest of the body – including the arteries of the legs and arms, the carotid arteries that carry blood to the brain, the aorta in the abdomen and chest, and the venous system.

Despite this geographic division of the body, the underlying disease process both of them treat is very similar and usually stems from atherosclerosis – the gradual buildup of fat and cholesterol plaque in the artery walls, which causes them to narrow and harden. When such a blockage develops in the heart's arteries it can cause angina or a heart attack, and when the same process occurs in the leg arteries, the American Society for Vascular Surgery compares it to angina or a "heart attack in the legs", a condition in which the muscles don't get enough blood and oxygen. Because atherosclerosis is a systemic disease that can affect several areas at the same time, many patients are followed jointly by both a cardiologist and a vascular surgeon.

Leg pain when walking that goes away with rest — is it related to the blood vessels?

Often, the answer is yes. Pain, cramping or a feeling of fatigue and heaviness in the calf, thigh or buttock muscles that consistently appears while walking and goes away after a short rest of a few minutes is known medically as "intermittent claudication". The main cause of this phenomenon is peripheral artery disease (PAD) – narrowing of the arteries that carry blood to the legs due to atherosclerotic plaque buildup, as a result of which the muscles don't get enough blood and oxygen during exertion.

Not all leg pain stems from a blood vessel problem (sometimes it's an orthopedic or nerve problem), but if you are over 50, a current or former smoker, or living with diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, it's important to let your doctor know. The initial diagnosis is simple and non-invasive, and is usually made with an ABI test, which compares the blood pressure at the ankle with the blood pressure in the arm.

What treatments are available for varicose veins in the legs?

Treatment of varicose veins has changed significantly in recent years, and in most cases open surgery is no longer needed. According to the guidelines of the UK's NICE institute, the first step is a duplex ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis and map the veins. After that, the recommended order of treatment priorities is:

Endovenous thermal ablation (radiofrequency or laser): the first line of treatment. Through a tiny puncture and under local anesthesia, a thin fiber is inserted that seals the faulty vein from the inside using heat.
Ultrasound-guided foam injection: the second option, intended for situations where thermal ablation is not suitable. The foam injection causes the vein walls to stick together and close.
Surgery: reserved only for cases where both minimally invasive methods are not suitable.

Compression stockings do not cure varicose veins, and according to the guidelines they should not be used as a substitute for interventional treatment, but only for relief when there is no other option. During pregnancy, invasive treatments for varicose veins are not performed, and conservative management is used until after delivery. In addition, varicose veins that are not accompanied by pain, discomfort or skin changes are not a medical problem and do not require referral to a vascular surgeon.