“What is a vascular surgeon?”
What exactly does a vascular surgeon do? How is your practice different from a cardiologist?
16 Answers
VascularSurgeonVascularSurgery
A vascular surgeon is trained in general surgery with additional training in surgery of the blood vessels of the body. A cardiologist is trained in internal medicine with additional training in the study of the heart and blood vessels. A vascular surgeon and cardiologist treat many of the same diseases, including peripheral arterial disease, carotid artery disease, and abdominal aortic aneurysms. A cardiologist generally is limited in treating with medications and procedures through the skin without "opening you up," whereas the vascular surgeon has the expertise to perform procedures of a major surgical nature -- opening the leg to bypass diseased arteries, or the neck to perform an endarterectomy on your carotid, or the abdomen to fix your abdominal aortic aneurysm. The cardiologist stents the vessels, which is way less invasive.
This is a great question because much confusion surrounds these two specialties. A vascular surgeon is trained in diagnosing and treating peripheral arterial disease. This includes arteries and veins in the arms, legs, neck and abdomen. Vascular surgeons may treat these vessels using an open or endovascular approach. The endovascular approach is a
minimally-invasive technique that uses balloons, wires and catheters to open up block arterial vessels. When treating venous insufficiency, which presents with pain, swelling, discoloration of the skin, and varicose veins, we use an endovenous technique to close the non-working veins and, in some cases, an open technique to remove them. Vascular surgeons also treat carotid disease, aneurysms in the abdomen and extremities along with many other disorders of the arteries and veins. Finally, vascular surgeons also
repair vessels that have been injured from trauma. Cardiologist are trained to study the heart and treat it medically. Interventional cardiologist will also treat the arteries of the heart with endovascular techniques using wires catheters, balloons, and stents. Some cardiologist are trained to do interventions on peripheral vessels and focus in this area more than the heart. The main difference between the two specialties is cardiologist do not operate. Vascular surgeons operate which provides the unique advantage of being a complete service line when it comes to management of peripheral arterial and venous disease.
minimally-invasive technique that uses balloons, wires and catheters to open up block arterial vessels. When treating venous insufficiency, which presents with pain, swelling, discoloration of the skin, and varicose veins, we use an endovenous technique to close the non-working veins and, in some cases, an open technique to remove them. Vascular surgeons also treat carotid disease, aneurysms in the abdomen and extremities along with many other disorders of the arteries and veins. Finally, vascular surgeons also
repair vessels that have been injured from trauma. Cardiologist are trained to study the heart and treat it medically. Interventional cardiologist will also treat the arteries of the heart with endovascular techniques using wires catheters, balloons, and stents. Some cardiologist are trained to do interventions on peripheral vessels and focus in this area more than the heart. The main difference between the two specialties is cardiologist do not operate. Vascular surgeons operate which provides the unique advantage of being a complete service line when it comes to management of peripheral arterial and venous disease.
A cardiologist is not a surgeon. A vascular surgeon treats both with open surgery and with minimally invasive angioplasties and stenting arteries, involving everything except on the brain directly and indirectly on the heart. A cardiologist is not trained specifically to treat problems outside of the heart, although many dabble in this area. A vascular surgeon can offer you options that a cardiologist cannot. Many cardiologists, when they can't treat a problem, will tell the patient that there is nothing more they can do. Oftentimes, that is not true. Cardiologists like to practice outside of their trained specialty because of lack of income.
Specialized dedicated training for the arteries and veins in the body other than Heart and Brain makes the Vascular Surgeon who can not be compared with any other specialists.
We differ from cardiologists in that our training and practice focuses on prevention, medical management, and surgical plus endovascular treatment of arterial and venous diseases (excluding the brain and heart). We also have expertise in evaluating all imaging related to the blood vessels. We follow our patients for life. Cardiologists are not surgeons thus do not operate on blood vessels and generally their training and practice focuses on treating heart vessels..
Vascular surgeons can do both endovascular and open surgical procedures, whereas cardiologists can only do endovascular procedures.
Ramandeep Sidhu, MD, FACS, RPVI
Ramandeep Sidhu, MD, FACS, RPVI
Focus on treatment (and prevention) on all vascular beds except heart and brain vessels. Cardiologists are focused on treating heart problems.
Vivienne J. Halpern
Vascular Surgeon
A vascular surgeon does procedures on all areas outside of the heart - this includes both open surgical procedures as well as endovascular procedures - thus a vascular surgeon can decide whether open or endovascular procedure is best option for a patient as they do both
A cardiologist is focused on the heart although now their training includes treatment of vessels outside the heart - however they are NOT surgeons and cannot perform surgeries like bypasses or open surgeries to clean out arteries or open surgeries on aneurysms. Even for heart blood vessel issues, if surgery is needed the patient would need to be referred to a cardiac thoracic surgeon
A cardiologist is focused on the heart although now their training includes treatment of vessels outside the heart - however they are NOT surgeons and cannot perform surgeries like bypasses or open surgeries to clean out arteries or open surgeries on aneurysms. Even for heart blood vessel issues, if surgery is needed the patient would need to be referred to a cardiac thoracic surgeon
A vascular surgeon performs treatments of patients for carotid artery disease, aortic occlusive disease, and aneurysms. Cardiologists also treat patients for similar diseases using wires and catheters, but they are not necessarily trained well in managing peripheral arterial disease.
I am a cardiologist as well as a vascular specialist. I treat conditions of the heart and blood vessels (vasculature) of the body, using minimally invasive techniques such as stenting. Stents are scaffolds which open up blockages found in blood vessels and keep the vessels open.
A vascular surgeons is a physician who diagnoses and manages diseases is veins, arteries, and lymphatic occurring anywhere in the body except for the heart
A vascular surgeon addresses all aspects of arterial and venous disease. This includes conservative management; just Because a 'blockage' exists doesn't mean it needs to be treated. Also, vascular surgeons can utilize 'open' surgery if this serves the patient better. A cardiologist can only offer an endovascular option.
Vascular Surgeons complete a General Surgery residency and then complete additional training in treatment of arterial and venous disease. Cardiologists, complete a residency in internal medicine, and then study treatment of heart disease. Since arterial disease and heart disease have many similar risk factors, some interventional cardiologists, those who place stents in heart arteries, have expanded the scope of their practice to treat other arteries in the body with stents. While their role in the treatment of arterial disease is arguable, their role in the treatment of venous disease is not.
Risk factors, disease processes and treatment options for arterial disease and venous disease are completely different. Vascular surgeons are well versed in the differences, because they are the only specialty with formal training in venous disease. There is a standard of care for treatment of venous disease, and vascular surgeons set it. Because they lack comparable education and experience, cardiologists dabbling with “treating leaky vein valves” have no role in the treatment of venous disease.
Risk factors, disease processes and treatment options for arterial disease and venous disease are completely different. Vascular surgeons are well versed in the differences, because they are the only specialty with formal training in venous disease. There is a standard of care for treatment of venous disease, and vascular surgeons set it. Because they lack comparable education and experience, cardiologists dabbling with “treating leaky vein valves” have no role in the treatment of venous disease.
Thank for asking a great question. In Vascular Surgery training we gain expertise in treating patients medically and by performing interventions. And if a procedure were necessary I have tools to decide what would be best for the individual via endovascular or surgical methods. Therefore I can offer any of my patients the most to date and individualized treatment for their specific issues by any means necessary.
A vascular surgeon operates on the vessels that take blood away from the heart that has any a narrowing or a blockage. These vessels are usually in the legs but can be in the neck, arm or abdomen. We operate on all vessels except for the heart and brain. The vascular surgeon initially gets a picture of the vessels, and this is called an arteriogram. An arteriogram is a road map which guides the surgeon. The surgeon then follows that road map and opens the vessels with a balloon and stent and if that is not possible, will recommend a bypass to the patient. A bypass is a tube that is placed into the vessel above the blockage on one end and below the blockage on the other ends. Thus it is called a "bypass", ie bypassing the blocked artery.
Takes care of all Arteries and Veins outside of heart and brain.
