Vascular Treatment Specialties for Women
When you hear the term “vascular specialist,” your first thought might be vein stripping, coronary heart disease, or vein flow insufficiency. While these are common topics, they are only fractions of what is covered under “vascular.” At the USA Vascular Centers, we offer a multitude of vascular disease and illness treatment options for more patients than anyone else. With more vascular centers opening across the country, it has never been easier to consult a vascular specialist! While certain vascular diseases are common place for men and all patients over fifty years of age, it is important to also recognize the risks women face, as well. Throughout a woman’s life, she may face any number of vascular diseases throughout her body. However, certain complications are only possible in women. Specifically, diseases arise in women’s reproductive systems that cannot occur in men. One of the most common vascular complications in women is blocked fallopian tubes. Blocked fallopian tubes result from a variety of reasons; though, the most common are damage to the fallopian tubes from diseases such as sexually transmitted diseases and infections. When your fallopian tubes become blocked, it is near impossible to properly ovulate. If your body cannot ovulate, your chances of becoming pregnant are minimal. Additionally, blocked fallopian tube can cause other complications throughout your reproductive system. To treat block fallopian tubes, our vascular specialists prescribe Fallopian Tube Recanalization procedures. Fallopian tube recanalization is a non-surgical outpatient procedure that is performed in our clinics by a vascular surgeon. Your surgeon inserts a small catheter into your blocked fallopian tube via your cervix and releases a metal
wire. This wire unblocks your fallopian tube and allows flow to resume normally. Contrasting dye is used before and after the procedure to demonstrate flow is normal. With fallopian tube recanalization, your chances of pregnancy increase significantly. It is important to note, however, that this procedure does not guarantee conception since multiple variables determine if your body can conceive a child. Another common vascular disease that affects women is Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). PAD results from both your lifestyle and genetics. Women who are obese, do not exercise, eat a poor diet, and are over the age of fifty are more at risk than others. Additionally, PAD creates a blockage in an artery, restricting blood flow to other parts of your body. If this blockage is released, it can create a blood clot or other complications throughout your body. While PAD is a serious condition, our vascular specialists offer an effective, minimally invasive PAD treatment option. Stent Angioplasty, a non-surgical procedure, is the best PAD treatment option for patients for several reasons. First, the procedure is simple. During stent angioplasty, your surgeon will insert a small catheter into the blocked artery, releasing a metal stent. This stent this opens, allowing normal blood flow to resume in the artery. Second, patients can return home the same day with little to no complications. While medication and dietary changes may be enough for certain patients, stent angioplasty is the most effective PAD treatment option for those with a more severe diagnosis.