Arteriovenous Fistula: What It Is and How It Is Treated in Vascular Surgery An Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF) is an abnormal connection between a vein and an artery. Typically, veins are connected to arteries by tiny blood vessels called capillaries. The capillaries bring
The Link Between Diabetes and Peripheral Arterial Disease Diabetes is a serious health condition that causes a person’s blood sugar to rise because their body does not produce or use insulin properly. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) occurs when the arteries that carry
Unraveling Lymphedema: Causes, Risk Factors, and Treatment Options Your lymphatic system is responsible for maintenance of fluids throughout your body. When your lymphatic system does not function properly, fluids can accumulate in certain areas of your body causing swelling. Lymphedema occurs when
Varicocele: Understanding Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options Varicocele is a condition that occurs when the veins within the loose pouch of skin that contain the testicles become swollen or enlarged. The veins located inside the testicles are intended to move oxygen-depleted blood
Understanding Chronic Venous Insufficiency Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) is a condition that occurs when the veins in your legs return blood to your heart as they should. When this happens, blood can flow backward and lead to pooling in your legs. It’s
Understanding Pelvic Venous Disorders Pelvic venous congestion is a condition that occurs when the veins in your pelvis do not function properly. The blood that is returning from below your abdomen moves slowly, which causes blood to pool and varicose veins to
By Bryan Kramer, MD and Taylor Caddell, RVU MSIII Quick Review Abdominal aortic aneurysms are dilations of the abdominal aorta, usually occurring below the renal arteries and above the aortic bifurcation. Risk factors for AAA include male gender, advanced age, smoker or
By Bryan Kramer, MD and Taylor Caddell, RVU MSIII What is an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)? An aneurysm refers to an abnormal dilation of an artery. The rest of the AAA name refers to the location of the aneurysm, which in this
Venous Disease Consequences Healthy blood circulation is an essential element to virtually every other normal function your body performs. After all, you can’t breathe, digest food, or even move without blood flowing to your heart. This also means that when problems occur
Authored By: Dr. Bryan Kramer, MD and Grace Boyle, OMS-II What is Lower Extremity Chronic Venous Disease? Definition: Spectrum of lower extremity vein abnormalities that may be morphologic and/or functional in nature that lead to venous dilation May or may not be
