Vascular surgery is a surgical subspecialty in which diseases of the vascular system, or arteries, veins and lymphatic circulation, are managed by medical therapy, minimally-invasive catheter procedures, and surgical reconstruction. The specialty evolved from general and cardiac surgery as well as minimally invasive techniques pioneered by interventional radiology. The vascular surgeon is trained in the diagnosis and management of diseases affecting all parts of the vascular system except those of the epicardium and intracranial region.

A vascular surgeon makes sure patients with vascular health issues know and understand all their options. In short, vascular surgeons can do surgery, but they see and treat many patients who don’t require surgery. Many vascular problems can be treated with medication or exercise Possible symptoms include:

• Hair loss on the feet and legs
• Leg weakness
• Brittle toenails
• Toenails grow slowly
• A foot or the lower leg may feel cold
• Numbness in the legs
• Sores or ulcers on the legs and feet that take a long time to heal
• The skin on the legs becomes shiny or turns pale or bluish