Atherosclerosis or "hardening of the arteries" is caused by plaque in
arteries. Plaque can narrow the arteries leading to decreased blood
flow. Problems in the arteries may affect you in different ways.
General information from our Professional Vascular Society, the Society of Vascular Surgery, can also be found here: www.Vascularweb.org
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Blockages
in the main arteries to the brain (known as the carotid arteries), may
cause strokes or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). Strokes are one of
the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. Early
detection and treatment can be key in preventing stroke. Symptoms of
strokes include:
- Loss of vision in one eye
- Difficulty speaking
- Weakness or numbness on one side of the body
Blockages in the carotid arteries can be accurately detected with an ultrasound in our vascular lab.
Treatment options include medical therapy, a surgical procedure (known
as endarterectomy), or in some circumstances carotid stenting.
For more information about stroke prevention, go to www.Vascularweb.org
Further information regarding treatment, visit the following links:
carotid endarterectomy or
carotid stent.
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| Example of carotid artery narrowing (stenosis) |
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Example of carotid artery after endarterectomy |
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Pain
in the legs with walking may be a sign of significant blockages in leg
arteries. This is known as intermittent claudication. Many might
consider this normal aging but it is not.
Other symptoms include constant pain in the feet at rest, or
non-healing sores on the feet and/or toes. The first step to diagnose
this problem is a thorough physical exam and ultrasound evaluation. The
surgeons at Lake Washington Vascular have expertise in both minimally
invasive (endovascular) and traditional surgical approaches to
peripheral vascular disease.
For more information about blockages in leg arteries, go to www.Vascularweb.org for patients with this condition.
Further information regarding treatment, visit the following links:
angioplasty/stent or
surgical bypass.
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| Leg arteries before bypass surgery |
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Leg arteries after bypass surgery |
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| Iliac (Pelvic) artery narrowing |
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Iliac (Pelvic) artery after stenting |
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Blockages
in kidney arteries can cause high blood pressure, or deterioration in
kidney function. This is a painless, silent but serious process that
often goes undetected. Diagnosis is made with a vascular ultrasound.
Treatment is often minimally invasive utilizing balloons or stents to
open the blockage.
For more information about blockages in kidney arteries and its treatment visit the following link: renal artery disease.
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| Kidney artery narrowing |
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Kidney arteries after stent placement |
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AAAs
are the 9th leading cause of death in the U.S. in men >60 years old
and also occur in women. Often known as silent killers, they are deadly
when they rupture. Detecting AAAs before rupture can save lives.
Aneurysms can be detected and followed with ultrasound. Often AAAs can
be repaired with a minimally invasive procedure. Patients who undergo
minimally invasive repair of their AAA often spend just one night in
the hospital and have a speedy recovery. The surgeons at Lake
Washington Vascular have expertise in both traditional open aneurysm as
well as minimally invasive endovascular repair.
For more information about Aneurysms and Treatment repair, visit the following links at www.Vascularweb.org: Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment & Endovascular Treatment.
Additional information can be found at the following links:
www.aneurx.com, www.goremedical.com, or www.zenithstentgraft.com.
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| Contained rupture of abdominal aneurysm |
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Aneurysms after stent graft repair |
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Picture of endovascular stent graft used to fix Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms |
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