What is a Vascular Surgeon?

By Vascular Institute of the Rockies - February 24, 2020

What is a Vascular Surgeon?
Vascular Institute of the Rockies

5-7 years of training after medical school specializing in learning about all aspects of peripheral vascular disease.
Vascular Surgeons treat all arteries and veins EXCEPT the ASCENDING AORTA and the HEART, which are the areas of expertise of cardiac surgeons.
Vascular Surgeons are the ONLY doctors who are experts in all methods of treatment of vascular disease- Medical therapy, MINIMALLY INVASIVE balloons and stents, and open blood vessel replacement surgery along with LIFETIME FOLLOWUP.
Because vascular surgeons have the skills to provide every treatment of vascular disease, they can help individualize the treatment of each patient to what will work best for them.
Other specialties have expertise in SOME types of vascular treatment, but only vascular surgeons are experts in ALL TREATMENTS, from the least invasive to the most complex.
Interventional Radiologist- similar expertise to vascular surgeons in balloons and stents ONLY- If long term medical management or open surgery is a better option for the patient, they refer them to a vascular surgeon.
Interventional Cardiologist- some have expertise in ballooning or stenting peripheral arteries and veins, but their primary training is on treating the heart arteries. Can also provide medical management, but if open surgery is the best option, they will refer the patient to a vascular surgeon.
Other Surgeons- General Surgeon, Cardiac Surgeon- some can perform open surgery on arteries and veins, but have no training in minimally invasive techniques or medical management.
Vein Doctors- Many specialties have learned how to treat veins AFTER their formal training. Usually this is a 2-5 day training course, compared to 5-7 years of training for a vascular surgeon.
All other doctors who treat vascular disease REFER THEIR PATIENTS TO A VASCULAR SURGEON WHEN THEY HAVE COMPLICATIONS FROM THEIR INTERVENTIONS.
Primary Referral to a Vascular Surgeon eliminates all of these issues- Vascular Surgeons are the only true experts in all treatment methods for peripheral arteries and veins and provide comprehensive lifetime vascular care.

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