Vascular surgeons deal with veins and arteries everywhere but the heart and the brain. (Heart surgeons treat the heart, and neurosurgeons treat the brain.) 

This includes the arteries in your neck, stomach, kidneys, legs and feet. It also includes the part of the aorta that enters your abdomen. 

Vascular surgeons perform both open procedures (with traditional incisions) and minimally invasive procedures. Often, they use imaging to visualize the blood vessels during procedures. 

They also manage many conditions without surgery. In many cases, they can perform interventional procedures using catheters instead of large cuts to treat blood vessels.

Vascular surgeons treat vascular disease, which includes a broad range of conditions. The vascular diseases we most commonly see are: 

• Aortic aneurysm: A type of ​aortic disease, this is a weakness or bulge in the wall of the aorta. If the aneurysm grows too large, it can cause an aortic rupture — a life-threatening condition.
• ​​​Carotid artery disease: Your carotid arteries supply blood to your brain. If they narrow or something blocks them, it reduces blood flow to your brain and puts you at risk for stroke.
• Atherosclerosis: If fat, cholesterol and other substances build up in the walls of your arteries, they become narrow and stiff. Blood can’t flow as it should, which increases your risk for stroke and ​heart attack.
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD): This is when atherosclerosis happens in the specific arteries that supply blood to your legs and feet. It can cause pain and weakness in your legs, especially when walking.
• Vein conditions: If your veins weaken or have trouble returning blood to your heart, it can cause ​vein disease. This includes varicose veins, leg ulcers and deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
• Blood clots: You can develop a blood clot in any vein (vein thrombosis). If the clot develops in the superficial veins at the surface of your skin, it may not be as serious. But it can be dangerous when they develop in deeper veins or in the veins of organs.
• Diabetes: Vascular surgeons help treat circulation problems that people with ​diabetes can have. They do procedures to help improve blood flow and prevent leg and foot infections.

Most of the procedures vascular surgeons perform are trying to improve the blood flow through your blood vessels. These treatments can reduce the risk of conditions like heart attack, stroke and limb loss. 

Some of the most common vascular procedures are: 

• Open aneurysm surgery: For large aortic aneurysms, vascular surgeons may need to use a traditional approach to repair the aneurysm. This involves a large incision and a longer recovery time.
• Endovascular surgery: Endovascular surgery treats the aneurysm from inside the aorta instead of making a large incision.
• Angioplasty and stenting: This procedure helps open a blocked artery and restore blood flow. Vascular surgeons can use this for a range of conditions, from PAD to carotid artery disease.
• Atherectomy: This interventional procedure uses a catheter with a sharp blade on the end. The surgeon uses the blade to scrape away the artery plaque. It also treats PAD.
• Endarterectomy: This is the surgical method for removing plaque from your arteries.
• Vein surgery: Vascular surgeons may do vein surgery to treat varicose veins, DVT and other vein conditions.
• ​​Thrombectomy: This procedure removes a blood clot from a vein. It can help prevent pulmonary embolism. Our vascular surgeons have minimally invasive ways to perform thrombectomies.

Your vascular surgeon and care team will give specific instructions about your procedure or surgery. These are some general things to keep in mind. 

Before vascular surgery 

You’ll likely need tests before surgery.  

An angiogram is a test to detect blocked carotid arteries. This procedure uses a catheter and contrast dye to look at your arteries. 

An ankle-brachial index test helps diagnose PAD. It’s a noninvasive test. 

Before your tests, you’ll receive instructions about when to stop eating, drinking and taking medications. 

During vascular surgery 

During your surgery, you’ll receive anesthesia. What type depends on your procedure. You’ll discuss this with your surgeon beforehand. 

For open surgery, your surgeon will make a large incision to treat or repair the blood vessel. 

With endovascular surgery, the surgeon makes a series of punctures. They pass tools through the small cuts to operate. 

Recovering from vascular surgery 

After surgery, the team will move you to a post-anesthesia or intensive care unit. You may spend a few days in the hospital after that. 

Your recovery also depends on the type of surgery you had. Open surgery can take 6 to 12 weeks to recover. With minimally invasive surgery, you may be back to work and some activities within 2 weeks. 

With some vascular procedures, like certain types of vein treatment, the recovery is very quick. Some of these are same-day procedures. 

Recovery varies by person. Your overall health going into surgery makes a difference, too.