Dr. Shirvani is a vascular surgery doctor serving the DFW metroplex. If you are having any pain or issues related to your veins or arteries contact his office for a consultation.
Vascular surgery doctors in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are specialists who treat a variety of diseases that affect the vascular system. The primary focus for vascular surgery doctors is the blood vessels in your body.
Think of the blood vessels as roadways or rivers for your circulatory system. They consist of the arteries and veins that transport oxygen-enriched blood to and from your heart and throughout your body. Vascular surgeons manage arteries and veins all over the body except for the heart and the brain.
When there is a blockage or a vessel breaks, life-threatening problems can develop. These problems are just like a dam breaking or a traffic jam in a river or on the highway. However, most vascular conditions are very treatable with minimally invasive surgery. Sometimes the issues require open surgical procedures, but trained surgeons are there to make the process as smooth and straightforward as possible.
Recommended Dallas-Fort Worth Vascular Surgery Doctors
Vascular Surgeons Perform Other Vital Functions Besides Surgery
Vascular doctors educate their patients about health issues involving the vascular structures in the body. This is critical because problems with blood vessels can affect many parts of the body. They can discuss the symptoms and issues that you are having and explain your options to you.
Often exercise, diet, and medication can treat vascular conditions. Many vascular surgeons are happy to say that they spend most of their time talking patients out of having surgery.
Building Relationships with Patients is Important
Vascular surgeons are proud of the fact that we develop an ongoing relationship with their patients. They are there beyond performing procedures. Usually, vascular surgery doctors treat you for years, sometimes even decades. Your long-term health is important to them, and they are there for the entire journey.
Vascular Surgeons perform all Vascular Procedures
Unlike some specialists, vascular surgeons are trained in every procedure from endovascular techniques that are minimally invasive to complicated, open surgeries. Some patients need no surgery while others may require more than one. Vascular surgeons do not prefer one specific treatment over another, they just want the best option for their patients.
Vascular surgery doctors save limbs and help with stroke care, as well. Patients with circulatory problems and peripheral arterial disease are afforded a more comfortable and productive life.
When do you need to see a Vascular Surgeon?
Usually, your primary care doctor will refer you to a vascular surgeon. This often occurs if you have specific symptoms like leg pain or if you are diabetic, have elevated blood pressure, or you smoke. You may encounter a vascular doctor at the hospital after you have had some type of emergency event.
Vascular Tests
There are a variety of tests that vascular surgeons may use to diagnose various vascular conditions. These are the most common tests used to evaluate your specific problems. They are happy to answer any questions that you may have before any of these tests are performed.
Duplex Ultrasound
This procedure is an evaluation that is non-invasive. It evaluates how well the blood is flowing through your veins and arteries. This test helps your surgeon make the proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Accuracy for this test is vital so it should be performed by a sonographer credentialed through an accredited vascular lab.
Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) and Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA)
These non-invasive, advanced imaging tests provide physicians with detailed information about your blood vessels and their structural relationships with organs in the body. They allow the doctor to see a three-dimensional picture of the vascular disease and are crucial to assessing how extensive it is, as well as the best treatment for it.
Angiogram
This X-ray procedure is used therapeutically and diagnostically. It is the highest standard for the evaluation of blockages within the arterial system. X-rays are taken while contrast dye is injected into the body to highlight blockages.
This procedure lasts from approximately 15 to 20 minutes to up to several hours. It depends on the difficulty of the test. Typically, you are placed under sedation for this process. Angiograms help doctors choose the best treatment plan for you.
Carotid Duplex
This test is also non-invasive and measures and looks at the rate of blood flow through the carotid arteries. It is used to diagnose blockages. No needles, radiation, or dyes are used. The Carotid Duplex is performed in a radiology department, a vascular laboratory, or a physician’s office.
Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI Test)
An ABI Test is a non-invasive test, it uses cuffs that inflate to evaluate your blood pressure and gauge the blood flow in your arteries. It assesses these measurements in the calf, thigh, toes, and foot. This test can be performed at a vascular laboratory or outpatient clinic. There may be brief discomfort similar to the feeling of a routine test that measures your blood pressure with an arm cuff that inflates.
Conditions that Vascular Doctors Treat
There are several conditions that vascular surgeons treat.
Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are common and affect approximately 35 percent of people in America. Essentially, they are swollen, large, twisted veins that often cause aching or pain in the legs.
Blood Clots
Blood clots are clumps of blood that form in your veins for no practical reason and do not dissolve on their own. They are dangerous and require immediate treatment especially if they form in your brain, legs, or lungs.
They form when plasma proteins and platelets thicken to form a gel-like mass. An injury or event within the blood vessels that cannot be contributed to an injury can trigger this process. This is also known as Deep Vein Thrombosis or DVT.
Arteries-Atherosclerosis
Known as the narrowing or hardening of the arteries, Atherosclerosis occurs when plaque accumulates on the walls of your arteries. This is a serious condition that can cause peripheral vascular or artery disease (PAD), heart attacks, and strokes. PAD can lead to nonhealing wounds and debilitating leg pain.
Aneurysm
An aneurysm is a weak spot or bulge in an artery. The bulge may rupture, causing internal bleeding. They can happen anywhere in the body but commonly occur in the aorta, brain, spleen, or legs. Aneurysms may need surgical repair and close monitoring.